Camera module

ABSTRACT

A camera module, which is mounted on an inside of a front windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, includes a lens unit and an imager to image the external environment by forming an optical image, which is from the external environment through the lens unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is continuation application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/956,072, filed Apr. 18, 2018, which is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/828,125, filed Nov. 30, 2017, which claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Applications No. 2017-73643 filed on Apr. 3, 2017, No.2017-169804 filed on Sep. 4, 2017, No. 2017-212156 filed on Nov. 1,2017, and No. 2017-214140 filed on Nov. 6, 2017, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Also, anyapplications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim isidentified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the presentapplication are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a camera module.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, camera modules, which are installed on the inside of awindshield of a vehicle and are configured to image an externalenvironment of the vehicle, have been widely known. One of the foregoingcamera modules has been disclosed in Patent Literature 1.

PATENT LITERATURE 1

Publication of Japanese Patent No. 5316562

SUMMARY

The present disclosure produces a camera module with a newconfiguration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a vehicle to which a camera moduleis applied according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the camera moduleaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the camera module according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the camera module according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a camera casing according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an image assembly and a circuit unitaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the image assembly and thecircuit unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a front schematic view illustrating an outside image generatedby the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens unit according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the lens unit according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a wide angle lens according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating an imager according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens unit according toa second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a third embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a seventh embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto an eighth embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the camera module accordingto the eighth embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a ninth embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating the camera module accordingto the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a bracket assembly and a hoodaccording to a ninth embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a top view illustrating the bracket assembly and the hoodaccording to the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a front schematic view illustrating a control functionaccording to the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a schematic top view illustrating a vehicle control functionaccording to the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a schematic top view illustrating a structure of the hoodaccording to the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a schematic side view illustrating a vehicle control functionaccording to the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a schematic side view illustrating the structure of the hoodaccording to the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating a bracket assembly and a hoodaccording to a tenth embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a top view illustrating the bracket assembly and the hoodaccording to the tenth embodiment;

FIG. 32 is a partially cross section perspective view illustrating abracket assembly and a hood according to an eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view illustrating a bracket assembly and a hoodaccording to a twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 34 is a top view illustrating a bracket assembly and a hoodaccording to a twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a thirteenth embodiment;

FIG. 36 is a perspective view illustrating a bracket assembly and a hoodtogether with a camera cover according to the thirteenth embodiment;

FIG. 37 is a top view illustrating the bracket assembly and the hoodtogether with the camera cover according to the thirteenth embodiment;

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a fourteenth embodiment;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view illustrating the camera module accordingto the fourteenth embodiment;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view illustrating a camera module according toa fifteenth embodiment;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view illustrating a hood according to thefifteenth embodiment;

FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a sixteenth embodiment;

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto a seventeenth embodiment;

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a camera module accordingto an eighteenth embodiment;

FIG. 45 is a perspective view illustrating the camera module accordingto the eighteenth embodiment;

FIG. 46 is a perspective view illustrating a bracket assembly and a hoodaccording to the eighteenth embodiment;

FIG. 47 is a top view illustrating the bracket assembly and the hoodaccording to the eighteenth embodiment;

FIG. 48 is a perspective view illustrating a camera module according toa nineteenth embodiment;

FIG. 49 is a perspective view illustrating a camera module according toa twentieth embodiment;

FIG. 50 is a side view illustrating the camera module according to thetwentieth embodiment;

FIG. 51 is a top view illustrating the camera module according to thetwentieth embodiment;

FIG. 52 is a perspective view illustrating a camera module according toa comparative example to the twentieth embodiment;

FIG. 53 is a perspective view illustrating a hood shape of the cameramodule according to the twentieth embodiment, which is different fromthat of FIG. 49;

FIG. 54 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one modification of FIG.13;

FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another modification ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 56 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of FIG. 9;

FIG. 57 is a front view illustrating a modification of FIG. 11;

FIG. 58 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of FIG.21;

FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one modification of FIG.14;

FIG. 60 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another modification ofFIG. 14;

FIG. 61 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one modification of FIG.15;

FIG. 62 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another modification ofFIG. 15;

FIG. 63 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of FIG. 41;

FIG. 64 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of FIG.18;

FIG. 65 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one modification of FIG.19;

FIG. 66 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another modification ofFIG. 19;

FIG. 67 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of FIG. 9;

FIG. 68 is a top view illustrating one modification of FIG. 24;

FIG. 69 is a top view illustrating another modification of FIG. 24;

FIG. 70 is a top view illustrating a modification of FIG. 23;

FIG. 71 is a top view illustrating one modification of FIG. 24;

FIG. 72 is a top view illustrating another modification of FIG. 24;

FIG. 73 is a top view illustrating a modification of FIG. 24; and

FIG. 74 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of FIG. 40;and

FIG. 75 is a perspective view showing the hood of FIG. 53 andillustrating a relationship between the hood and a field of lens angleof view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an outline of the present disclosure will be described.

One type of camera modules of the present disclosure is disclosed inJapanese Patent Literature 1, in which light from an externalenvironment enters a vehicle camera through a lens thereby to image theexternal environment.

In recent years, for advanced driving assisting or self-driving of avehicle, camera modules have been required to image a wide range of anexternal environment to recognize images. In particular, in a statewhere the vehicle is close to a traffic signal, imaging of the trafficsignal above the vehicle is required to enable its image recognition.

To meet the above requirement, it is conceivable to employ a techniqueof imaging the external environment through a wide angle lens having awide angle of view. However, in order to secure a brightness and aresolution in imaging of the external environment through the wide anglelens to enable image recognition, increase in size of the wide anglelens is required. As a result, the size of the camera module includingthe wide angle lens increases in size. Therefore, a concern arises thatthe large-sized camera module interferes with a field of view of theexternal environment for a vehicle occupant behind a windshield.

In a case where an outside imaging target range is enlarged by using,for example, a wide angle lens or the like, image processing of anoutput from the vehicle camera increases. As a result, due to theincrease in image processing, heat generation also increases on acircuit board of a circuit that processes the output from the vehiclecamera for image processing. Therefore, it is conceivable to enhance aradiation property. In addition, due to the increase in imageprocessing, the circuit board of the image processing circuit, which isfor the output from the vehicle camera, is further adapted to progressin the higher-speed and higher-frequency, and consequently, noisefurther increases. As a result, it is conceivable to enhanceelectromagnetic compatibility (EMC: Electro-Magnetic Compatibility).

Incidentally, as a lens angle of view becomes wider, excess lightincident on the lens further increases. For this reason, it isconceivable to employ a hood. However, in a case where the hood ismerely formed at a size comparable to the angle of view of the lens, thecamera module including the hood increases in size, resulting in aconcern that the large-sized camera module interferes with the field ofview of the external environment for the vehicle occupant behind thewindshield.

As described above, one object of the present disclosure is to provide acamera module having a novel structure capable of imaging the externalenvironment to enable image recognition.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a compact cameramodule including a wide angle lens.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cameramodule with a high thermal radiation property. Yet still another objectof the present disclosure is to provide a camera module with a high EMC.

Yet still another object of the present disclosure is to provide acompact camera module including a hood.

Hereinafter, a technical measure of the present disclosure will bedescribed. It should be noted that reference numerals in parenthesesdescribed in this column indicate correspondence with specific meansdescribed in embodiments to be described in detail later and do notlimit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) including a wide angle lens(36, 2036). The camera module further comprises an imager (34) to imagethe external environment by forming thereon an optical image from theexternal environment through the lens unit. The wide angle lens has awide angle optical surface (360, 2360) on an external environment side.The wide angle optical surface on an upper side of an optical axis (Aw)of the wide angle lens is larger in size than that on a lower side ofthe optical axis.

According to the lens unit of the first aspect, the wide angle lensforms the optical image, which is from the external environment of thevehicle, on the imager. In the wide angle lens, the size of the wideangle optical surface of the wide angle lens on the external environmentside is larger on the upper side of the optical axis than on the lowerside of the optical axis. According to the configuration, the size ofthe wide angle optical surface on the upper side of the optical axis,which unlikely reflects the vehicle, is larger than that on the lowerside of the optical axis which likely reflects the vehicle. Therefore,on the upper side where the size of the wide angle optical surfacebecomes larger, the upper side range of the external environment abovethe vehicle can be imaged to enable image recognition. On the otherhand, on the lower side where the imaging target range of the externalenvironment is restricted due to the vehicle, even though the size ofthe wide angle optical surface becomes small, imaging within that rangecan be secured, and thereby to enable downsizing of the camera module.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) configured by a combination ofa wide angle lens (36, 2036) in front of a rear lens (371, 372, 373,374, 375) and on an external environment side. The camera module furthercomprises an imager (34) to image the external environment by formingthereon an optical image from the external environment through the lensunit. The wide angle lens has a wide angle optical surface (360, 2360)on the external environment side. The wide angle optical surface on anupper side of an optical axis (A1) of the rear lens is larger in sizethan that on a lower side of the optical axis of the rear lens, theoptical axis passing through a principal point (Pp) of the wide anglelens.

According to the lens unit of the second aspect, the wide angle lensforms the optical image, which is from the external environment of thevehicle, on the imager. The optical axis in the rear lens passes throughthe principal point of the wide angle range. In the wide angle lens, thesize of the wide angle optical surface on the external environment sideis larger on the upper side of the optical axis than on the lower sideof the optical axis. According to the configuration, the size of thewide angle optical surface on the upper side of the optical axis, whichunlikely reflects the vehicle, is larger than that on the lower side ofthe optical axis which likely reflects the vehicle. Therefore, theconfiguration enables to image the upper side range of the externalenvironment above the vehicle on the upper side, where the size of thewide angle optical surface becomes larger, to enable image recognition.On the other hand, on the lower side where the imaging target range ofthe external environment is restricted due to the vehicle, even thoughthe size of the wide angle optical surface becomes small, imaging withinthat range can be secured. In this way, downsizing of the camera modulecan be enabled.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) including a wide angle lens(36, 2036). The camera module further comprises an imager (34) to imagethe external environment by forming thereon an optical image from theexternal environment through the lens unit. The wide angle lens has awide angle optical surface (360, 2360) on an external environment side.A geometric center (Cwg) of the wide angle optical surface is shiftedtoward an upper side of the optical axis (Aw) of the wide angle lens.

According to the lens unit of the third aspect, the wide angle lensforms the optical image, which is from the external environment of thevehicle, on the imager. In the wide angle lens, the geometric center ofthe wide angle optical surface on the external environment side isshifted toward the upper side of the optical axis. According to theconfiguration, the geometric center of the wide angle optical surface isshifted not toward the lower side of the optical axis, which likelyreflects the vehicle, but toward the upper side of the optical axiswhich unlikely reflects the vehicle. Therefore, on the upper side wherethe size of the wide angle optical surface becomes larger than that onthe lower side according to the shift amount of the geometric center,the upper side range of the external environment than the vehicle can beimaged to enable image recognition. On the other hand, on the lower sidewhere the imaging target range of the external environment is restricteddue to the vehicle, even though the size of the wide angle opticalsurface decreases according to the shift amount of the geometric center,imaging in the range can be secured. In this way, downsizing of thecamera module can be enabled.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) configured by a combination ofa wide angle lens (36, 2036) in front of a rear lens (371, 372, 373,374, 375) and on an external environment side. The camera module furthercomprises an imager (34) to image the external environment by formingthereon an optical image from the external environment through the lensunit. The wide angle lens has a wide angle optical surface (360, 2360)on the external environment side. A geometric center (Cwg) of the wideangle optical surface is shifted toward an upper side of the opticalaxis (A1) of the rear lens, the optical axis passing through a principalpoint (Pp) of the wide angle lens.

According to the lens unit of the fourth aspect, the wide angle lensforms the optical image, which is from the external environment of thevehicle, on the imager. The optical axis of the rear lens passes throughthe principal point of the wide angle lens. In the wide angle lens, thegeometric center of the wide angle optical surface on the externalenvironment side is shifted toward the upper side of the optical axis ofthe rear lens. According to the configuration, the geometric center ofthe wide angle optical surface is shifted not toward the lower side ofthe optical axis, which likely reflects the vehicle, but toward theupper side of the optical axis which unlikely reflects the vehicle.Therefore, on the upper side where the size of the wide angle opticalsurface becomes larger than that on the lower side according to theshift amount of the geometric center, the upper side range of theexternal environment than the vehicle can be imaged to enable imagerecognition. On the other hand, on the lower side where the imagingtarget range of the external environment is restricted due to thevehicle, even though the size of the wide angle optical surfacedecreases according to the shift amount of the geometric center, imagingin the range can be secured. In this way, downsizing of the cameramodule can be enabled.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) through which an optical imagefrom the external environment enters. The camera module furthercomprises an imager (34) to image the external environment by formingthe optical image thereon through the lens unit. The camera modulefurther comprises a circuit unit (3050, 4050, 7050) configured bycombination of an imaging board (51, 7051), on which an imaging circuit(52) to implement image processing on an output from the imager ismounted, with a flexible board (3053, 4053) connected to the imagingboard. The camera module further comprises a metal camera casing (3020,5020, 6020) accommodating the circuit unit and connected to the flexibleboard.

According to the circuit unit of the fifth aspect, the flexible board,which is accommodated in and connected to the metal camera casing, isconnected to the imaging board on which the imaging circuit for imageprocessing is mounted. According to the configuration, at least one ofheat or noise generated in the imaging board can be transmitted to thecamera casing through the flexible board. Therefore, at least one of athermal radiation property or an EMC can be enhanced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) through which an optical imagefrom the external environment enters. The camera module furthercomprises an imager (34) to image the external environment by formingthe optical image thereon through the lens unit. The camera modulefurther comprises an imaging board (7051) on which an imaging circuit(52) to implement image processing on an output from the imager ismounted. The camera module further comprises a holder (7031) defining aspace (7310) accommodating the imaging board and filled with a filler(7038) having a specific property, the specific property being at leastone of a thermal radiation property or a conductivity in the space. Thecamera module further comprises a metal camera casing (3020)accommodating the holder and connected to the filler.

According to the sixth aspect, the partitioned space of the holderaccommodates the imaging board on which the imaging circuit for imageprocessing is mounted. The partitioned space of the holder is filledwith the filler, which is connected to the metal camera casing. Thefiller has the specific property which is at least one of a thermalradiation property or a conductivity. According to the configuration, atleast one of heat or noise generated in the imaging board can betransmitted to the camera casing through the filler. Therefore, at leastone of the thermal radiation property or an EMC can be enhanced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) through which an optical imagefrom the external environment enters. The camera module furthercomprises an imager (34) to image the external environment by formingthe optical image thereon through the lens unit. The camera modulefurther comprises an imaging board (7051) on which an imaging circuit(52) to implement image processing on an output from the imager ismounted. The camera module further comprises a holder (7031) holding theimaging board. The camera module further comprises a metal camera casing(3020) accommodating the lens unit and the holder and adhered to atleast one of the lens unit or the holder with an adhesive (8039), theadhesive connected to the imaging board and having a specific property,the specific property being at least one of a thermal radiation propertyor a conductivity.

According to the seventh aspect, the adhesive having the specificproperty, which is at least one of the thermal radiation property or theconductivity, adheres to at least one of the lens unit or the assemblyholder, which is accommodated in the metal camera casing, in aconnection state with the imaging board on which the imaging circuit forimage processing is mounted. According to the configuration, at leastone of heat or noise generated in the imaging board can be transmittedto the camera casing through the adhesive. Therefore, at least one of athermal radiation property or an EMC can be enhanced.

According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) through which an optical imagefrom the external environment enters. The camera module furthercomprises an imager (34) to image the external environment by formingthe optical image thereon through the lens unit. The camera modulefurther comprises a hood (9040, 10040, 11040, 12040, 17040) to restrictincidence of light on the lens unit from the external environmentoutside an imaging target range of the imager. Under a definition thatan imaginary intersection (I1) is a point, at which a lower light ray(L1) imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the lower lightray is incident on the lens unit at a taper angle (θ1) within theimaging target range, and that the taper angle defines a horizontalangle of view range which is smaller than that of the lens unit, thehood includes a base wall portion (9041, 41), which is to be located toface the windshield across an imaging space (410) in which the opticalimage within the imaging target range is led to the lens unit, and aside wall portion (9043, 10043, 11043, 12043), which is raised from thebase wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space and is formedto spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginaryintersection.

According to the hood of the eighth aspect, light outside the imagingtarget range of the imager in the external environment can be restrictedfrom being incident on the lens unit. The configuration enables torestrict the light from being superimposed on a normal optical imagewithin the imaging target range and from interfering with the imaging.

In particular, according to the hood of the eighth aspect, the base wallportion is located so as to face the windshield across the imagingspace. The side wall portions are raised from the base wall portion andon the lateral sides of the imaging space. In the vehicle, the side wallportions spread from the periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginaryintersection. According to the configuration, even though the hood isformed small, the side wall portions unlikely block incidence of thelower light ray that intersects with the windshield at the imaginaryintersection, wherein the lower light ray is incident at the taper angledefining the horizontal angle of view range, which is smaller than thatof the lens unit, in the imaging target range. Therefore, the cameramodule, which includes the hood that secures the taper angle and iscapable of capturing the normal optical image, can be reduced in size.

According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(1) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) of avehicle (2) and to image an external environment (5) of the vehicle. Thecamera module comprises a lens unit (33) through which an optical imagefrom the external environment enters. The camera module furthercomprises an imager (34) to image the external environment by formingthe optical image thereon through the lens unit. The camera modulefurther comprises a hood (18040, 19040) to restrict incidence of lighton the lens unit from the external environment outside an imaging targetrange of the imager. The hood includes a base wall portion (9041), whichis to be located to face the windshield across an imaging space (410) inwhich the optical image within the imaging target range is led to thelens unit, and a side wall portion (18043), which is raised from thebase wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space. Under adefinition that an imaginary plane (Si) imaginarily extends along ahorizontal direction and includes an optical axis (Aw, A1) of the lensunit, the side wall portion is formed at a height to avoid an edge of alens angle of view (θw) of the lens unit on the imaginary plane.

According to the hood of the ninth aspect, light outside the imagingtarget range of the imager in the external environment is restrictedfrom being incident on the lens unit. The configuration enables torestrict light from being superimposed on the normal optical imagewithin the imaging target range and from interfering with the imaging.

In particular, according to the hood of the ninth aspect, the base wallportion is located to face the windshield across the imaging space. Theside wall portion is raised from the base wall portion and is on thelateral side of the imaging space. The side wall portion is formed atthe height on the imaginary plane to avoid the edge of the lens angle ofview of the lens unit. According to the configuration, even though thehood is formed small, at least incidence of the optical image within theimaging target range is unlikely blocked on the imaginary plane and onthe windshield side (that is, the upper side) of the imaginary plane.The imaginary plane imaginarily extends along the horizontal directionto include the optical axis of the lens unit. Therefore, the cameramodule including the hood, which is capable of capturing the normaloptical image in the lens angle of view, can be reduced in size.

According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a camera module(20001) is configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield (3) ofa vehicle (2). The camera module comprises a wide angle lens (20036)located at a position capable of capturing an image of an outside of thevehicle from an inside of the windshield. The camera module furthercomprises a hood (20040) to restrict light, which is from a vehicleinterior of the vehicle is reflected on an inside of the windshield,from entering the wide angle lens. The hood includes two side wallportions (20043) raised toward the windshield in a state where beingmounted to the inside of the windshield. A height of the side wallportions in the vertical direction is a height not to block an edge ofan angle of view (θ) of the wide angle lens on an imaginary plane (Si),the imaginary plane imaginarily extending along a horizontal directionand includes the optical axis (Aw) of the wide angle lens.

With the configuration of the tenth aspect, even though the hood isreduced in size, the hood does not block the imageable range on theimaginary plane including at least the optical axis of the wide anglelens. Therefore, the configuration is enabled to adapt to the wide anglelens while the camera module including the hood is reduced in size.

Hereinafter, multiple embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. The same reference numeralsare assigned to the corresponding elements in the embodiments, andredundant descriptions thereof may be omitted. When only a portion of aconfiguration in each embodiment is described, configurations of otherembodiments described in advance can be applied to other portions. Inaddition to the combinations of configurations clearly depicted in theexplanation of the embodiments, as long as issues do not particularlyarise in a combination, the configurations of multiple embodiments maybe partially combined with each other, even when not clearly described.

(First Embodiment)

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a camera module 1 according to a firstembodiment is mounted on a vehicle 2 and is configured to image anexternal environment 5. In the following description, a verticaldirection of the vehicle 2 on a horizontal plane is set to a verticaldirection. In addition, a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehiclewidth direction in horizontal directions of the vehicle 2 on thehorizontal plane are set to a front and back direction and a right andleft direction, respectively.

The camera module 1 is mounted on an inside of a front windshield 3 inthe vehicle 2. The front windshield 3 is located in front of a driver'sseat in the vehicle 2. The front windshield 3 partitions a vehiclecompartment 4, which is the inside of the front windshield 3, from theexternal environment 5. The front windshield 3 is made of a lighttransmissive material such as glass to transmit an optical imageentering the vehicle compartment 4 from a scenery of the externalenvironment 5.

An installation position of the camera module 1 to the front windshield3 is set at a position that does not substantially interfere with afield of view of an occupant who is seated in the driver's seat in thevehicle compartment 4. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a verticalinstallation position is set within a range Xv, which is, for example,about 20% from an upper edge of an opening window 6 a of a pillar 6.Inside the vehicle 2, the pillar 6 holds an outer peripheral edgeportion of the front windshield 3 in a frame form. A lateralinstallation position is set within a range Xh, which is, for example,about 15 cm from the center of the opening window 6 a to each of bothsides. With those settings, the installation position is located withina wiping range Xr of a windshield wiper that wipes the front windshield3. In addition, the installation position is located at a portion, atwhich the front windshield 3 is inclined by, for example, about 22° to90° with respect to the front and back direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the camera module 1 includes a bracketassembly 10, a camera casing 20, an image assembly 30, a hood 40, and acircuit unit 50.

The bracket assembly 10 includes a bracket main body 11, a cushion 13,and mounting pads 12 in combination. The bracket main body 11 is made ofa relatively easily moldable rigid material such as resin and is shapedin a substantially plate-like shape as a whole. The bracket main body 11is located along an inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3. Thebracket main body 11 holds multiple cushions 13 which are made ofelastomer or the like having a buffering function.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bracket main body 11 has multiplemounting slots 110 which extend through the bracket main body 11 betweenboth surfaces. The multiple mounting pads 12 are provided correspondingto the mounting slots 110, respectively and individually. Each of themounting pads 12 is formed by sticking, for example, an adhesive sheethaving a buffering function to a base component. The base component ismade of, for example, resin. As shown in FIG. 2, the base components ofthose mounting pads 12 are fixed into the respective mounting slots 110so as to be held by the bracket main body 11. The adhesive sheet of eachmounting pad 12 is fixedly stuck to the inner surface 3 a of the frontwindshield 3. In this way, the cushion 13 is interposed between thebracket main body 11 and the front windshield 3. Each mounting pad 12may be, for example, a suction pad made of elastomer or the like havinga buffering function.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the camera casing 20 includes a pair ofcasing members 21 and 22. Each of the casing members 21 and 22 is madeof a rigid material, which has a comparatively high thermal radiationproperty such as aluminum, and is formed in a hollow shape as a whole.

The reverse cup-shaped upper casing member 21 is located on a lower sideof the bracket assembly 10 so as to direct its opening portion to thelower side on the opposite side of the assembly 10. The upper casingmember 21 has multiple fitting protrusion portions 213 which are locatedat multiple positions on its outer peripheral edge portion andprotruding radially outward. In this example, the bracket main body 11is provided with multiple fitting protrusion portions 111 correspondingto the respective fitting protrusion portions 213, individually. Eachfitting protrusion portion 111 is fixed to a corresponding fittingprotrusion portion 213 by, for example, snap fit or the like. In thisway, the camera casing 20 is positioned inside the front windshield 3via the bracket assembly 10.

The upper casing member 21 includes an opposing wall portion 210, a bentwall portion 211, and a recess wall portion 212 on its upper wallportion. The opposing wall portion 210 is located in a posture in whichthe opposing wall portion 210 faces the inner surface 3 a of the frontwindshield 3 across the bracket assembly 10. The opposing wall portion210 is kept at a minimum distance from the front windshield 3 in theabove placement posture.

The bent wall portion 211 is bent relative to the opposing wall portion210. The bent wall portion 211 is located in a posture in which thefurther bent wall portion 211 is distant away from the opposing wallportion 210 toward the front side, the further the bent wall portion 211is spaced away downward from the front windshield 3. In the aboveplacement posture, a substantially crest-ridge-shaped portion (that is,a ridge line portion) 214, which is formed by the bent wall portion 211and the opposing wall portion 210, extends to substantially the entireof the upper casing member 21 in the right and left direction and is ata minimum distance from the front windshield 3.

The recess wall portion 212 is bent relative to the bent wall portion211. The recess wall portion 212 is located in a posture in which therecess wall portion 212 is distant away from the bent wall portion 211toward the front side, the further the recess wall portion 212 getscloser to the upper front windshield 3. The recess wall portion 212defines an accommodation recess 215 for accommodating the hood 40between the recess wall portion 212 and the front windshield 3 in theabove placement posture.

The dish-shaped lower casing member 22 is located on the lower side ofthe upper casing member 21 so as to direct its opening portion towardthe upper side on the side of the upper casing member 21. The lowercasing member 22 is fastened to the upper casing member 21 with a screw.In this way, the casing members 21 and 22 define an accommodation space25 for accommodating the image assembly 30 and the circuit unit 50 incooperation with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, the image assembly 30 includes anassembly holder 31, a lens unit 33, and an imager 34. The assemblyholder 31 is made of a relatively easily moldable rigid material such asresin and shaped in a hollow block as a whole. The assembly holder 31defines a rear optical path space 310 for leading the optical imagetoward the imager 34 as accommodated. Both of right and left endportions 311 of the assembly holder 31 are fastened to the upper casingmember 21, which is located on the upper side, with a screw.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 to 7 and 9, the lens unit 33 includes a lensbarrel 35 and a wide angle lens 36. The lens barrel 35 is made of arelatively easily moldable rigid material such as resin and is formed ina substantially tubular shape as a whole. The lens barrel 35 defines afront optical path space 357 for leading the optical image from the wideangle lens 36 as accommodated. The lens barrel 35 is fixed to and incontact with a front end portion of the assembly holder 31 tocommunicate the front optical path space 357 with the rear optical pathspace 310.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a front end portion of the lens barrel 35 isexposed to the outside of the camera casing 20 through the bent wallportion 211. For this exposure, a lens window 216 is formed in the bentwall portion 211 in the form of a through hole through which the lensbarrel 35 is inserted. The lens window 216 extends through the bent wallportion 211 between both wall surfaces at the center of the bent wallportion 211 in the lateral direction. Further, the recess wall portion212 is formed with a release hole 217 in a recessed shape. The releasehole 217 opens in the upper wall surface at the center in the lateraldirection and is connected to the lens window 216.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 9, the wide angle lens 36 is formed in aconcave meniscus lens shape and is made of a light transmissive materialsuch as glass. The wide angle lens 36 is fixed to the front end portionof the lens barrel 35 so as to close the front optical path space 357from the front side. An optical axis Aw passing through a principalpoint Pp of the wide angle lens 36 is set to be inclined downward orupward relative to the front and back direction toward the front side.Alternatively, the optical axis Aw is set along the front and backdirection.

So as to ensure a desired lens angle of view of the lens unit 33 as awhole, the wide angle lens 36 is passed thereby to have a relativelywide angle of view of, for example, about 75° to 150°. It is noted that,a wider angle of view may be given. In addition, for example, an Fnumber is set to 2 or more for the wide angle lens 36 so as to secure adesired brightness and a desired resolution of the lens unit 33 as awhole. In order to attain the above angle of view and F number, a focallength from the principal point Pp to the focal point Pf in the wideangle lens 36 is set to be relatively short, and a size of the wideangle lens 36 is set to be relatively large on the upper side of theoptical axis Aw as will be described in detail later.

The imager 34 shown in FIGS. 2 and 12 is mainly configured with a colortype or monochrome type image pickup device such as a CCD or a CMOS. Theimager 34 may be formed by, for example, a combination of an infraredcut filter (not shown) or the like on the front side of such an imagepickup device. The imager 34 is formed in a rectangular plate-like shapeas a whole. The imager 34 is accommodated in the assembly holder 31 asshown in FIG. 2, thereby being located in the rear optical path space310. In this example, the focal point Pf of the wide angle lens 36 isset in the front optical path space 357 thereby being located in frontof the imager 34.

In the configuration of the image assembly 30 described above, anoptical image transmitted from the external environment 5 through thefront windshield 3 is imaged on the imager 34 through the lens unit 33including the wide angle lens 36. At that time, the optical image of theexternal environment within the imaging target range 5 is formed as aninverted image on the imager 34 on the rear side of the focal point Pfof the wide angle lens 36. The imager 34 is configured to capture theinverted image as formed thereby to image the external environment 5 andto enable to output a signal or data.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hood 40 is formed integrally with thebracket main body 11, for example, by resin molding or the like, therebyforming a part of the bracket assembly 10. The entirety of the hood 40when viewed from the upper side is in a dish shape which is bilaterallysymmetrical with respect to the optical axis Aw of the wide angle lens36. The hood 40 has a base wall portion 41, a rear end wall portion 42,and side wall portions 43.

The base wall portion 41 is located on the upper side of the recess wallportion 212. The base wall portion 41 is located on the lower side ofthe optical axis Aw and is located on the front side of the bent wallportion 211. The base wall portion 41 is accommodated in theaccommodation recess 215 between the recess wall portion 212 and thefront windshield 3. The base wall portion 41 is located in a posture inwhich the further the bent wall portion 211 gets closer toward the frontside, the further the base wall portion 41 gets closer to the upperfront windshield 3. In this way, a bottom wall surface 41 a, which isdirected to an upper portion of the base wall portion 41, spreads in atrapezoidal and substantially planar shape and faces the inner surface 3a of the front windshield 3 across the imaging space 410. The opticalimage of the external environment 5, which is within the imaging targetrange (hereinafter simply referred to as the imaging target range) ofthe imager 34, passes through the front windshield 3 to be led to theimaging space 410.

The base wall portion 41 is provided with multiple restriction ribs 411.Each of the restriction ribs 411 protrudes from the bottom wall surface41 a of the base wall portion 41 into the upper imaging space 410 whichis on the front windshield 3 side. Each of the restriction ribs 411 is aridge extending linearly and is aligned substantially along the lateraldirection. The restriction ribs 411 are aligned longitudinally at apredetermined interval apart from each other. The respective restrictionribs 411 multiply reflect light, which is incident on the base wallportion 41, on those wall surfaces opposed to each other to trap theincident light therebetween. In order to produce the trap function,protrusion heights of the respective restriction ribs 411 are set torespective predetermined values.

The rear end wall portion 42 is located so that the lateral center ofthe rear end wall portion 42 is aligned substantially with the opticalaxis Aw. The rear end wall portion 42 is raised upward from a rear edgeof the base wall portion 41. The rear end wall portion 42 spreads so asto face the lower bent wall portion 211. The rear end wall portion 42 islocated in a posture in which the further the rear end wall portion 42is distant away from the base wall portion 41 toward the rear side, thefurther the rear end wall portion 42 gets closer to the upper frontwindshield 3.

A lens window 420 is formed in the rear end wall portion 42 in the formof a through hole through which the lens barrel 35 is inserted. The lenswindow 420 extends through the rear end wall portion 42 between bothwall surfaces at the center of the rear end wall portion 42 in thelateral direction. A front end portion of the lens barrel 35, where thewide angle lens 36 is located, is exposed through the lens window 420and the lens window 216 described above into the imaging space 410 whichis on the upper side of the base wall portion 41. In this way, theoptical image of the external environment 5, which is within the imagingtarget range and is led into the imaging space 410, can enter the lensunit 33 including the wide angle lens 36.

At least one restriction rib 411 protrudes high around the lens barrel35, which is exposed through the lens window 420, as compared with thatat a position spaced away from the lens barrel 35 toward the front side.In other words, a protrusion height of a specific rib 411 a, which isthe at least one restriction rib 411, is higher around the wide anglelens 36. In this example, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate multiple specificribs 411 a in which those protrusion height increases as the specificribs 411 a gets closer to the wide angle lens 36 of the lens unit 33.

In a periphery of the exposed lens barrel 35, an incident hole 421 isformed in the base wall portion 41 in a depressed shape. The incidenthole 421 opens on the bottom wall surface 41 a at the lateral center andis connected to the lens window 420. The incident hole 421 is releasedinto the release hole 217 formed on the lower recess wall portion 212.In this way, the incident hole 421 is enabled to have a depressiondepth, which allows the optical image of the external environment 5within the entire imaging target range to enter the lens unit 33.

The side wall portions 43 are located at bilaterally symmetricalpositions with respect to the optical axis Aw so as to interpose theimaging space 410 from both of the right and left sides. The side wallportions 43 are raised upward from the right and left side edges of thebase wall portion 41, respectively. The respective side wall portions 43are formed substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall surface 41 aof the base wall portion 41 and are arranged substantially along thevertical direction. In the side wall portions 43, inner wall surfaces 43a have a mutual distance therebetween in the lateral direction, and themutual distance gradually increases toward the front side. The innerwall surface 43 a is in a trapezoidal planar shape. Each of the sidewall portions 43 has a height from the base wall portion 41, and theheight gradually decreases toward the front side. In this way, therespective side wall portions 43 are located in a posture in which therespective side wall portions 43 are spaced from the inner surface 3 aof the front windshield 3 with a clearance 430 in an entire longitudinalregion as shown in FIG. 2.

The hood 40 configured as described above is capable of restrictingincidence of excess light on the lens unit 33 from the externalenvironment 5 outside the imaging target range, for example, incidenceof reflected light on the inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3.In addition, an optical trap function of the respective restriction ribs411 enables the hood 40 to regulate light reflection on the base wallportion 41 toward the lens unit 33.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, an accommodation position of the circuitunit 50, in addition to the components 31, 33, and 34 of the imageassembly 30, is set in the accommodation space 25. The circuit unit 50includes boards 51, 53, 54 and circuits 52, 55.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the imaging board 51 is formed of a rigidcircuit board, such as a glass epoxy circuit board, and is formed in asubstantially rectangular plate-like shape. The imaging board 51 isfastened to the assembly holder 31 with a screw. In this way, theimaging board 51 closes the rear optical path space 310 from the rearside.

The imaging board 51 is formed with a front mounting surface 510, whichis exposed to the rear optical path space 310, and a rear mountingsurface 511, which is exposed to the accommodation space 25 on the sideopposite to the front mounting surface 510. The imager 34 is mounted onthe front mounting surface 510. Multiple circuit elements configuringthe imaging circuit 52 are mounted on both of the mounting surfaces 510and 511. Those components as mounted enable the imaging circuit 52 toexchange signals or data with the imager 34.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, the flexible board (FPC) 53 holds aconductive wire in a base film made of, for example, flexible resin orthe like, and is formed in a substantially rectangular band shape as awhole. One end portion of the FPC 53 is connected to a lower end of theimaging board 51.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the control board 54 is a rigid circuitboard, such as a glass epoxy circuit board, and is formed in asubstantially rectangular plate-like shape. Both surfaces of the controlboard 54 face the upper side and the lower side, respectively, in theaccommodation space 25. In this way, the control board 54 has an uppermounting surface 540 facing upward and a lower mounting surface 541facing downward. The control board 54 is in abutment with the uppercasing member 21 at an outer peripheral edge portion of the controlboard 54 and at multiple portions of the upper mounting surface 540. Thecontrol board 54 is in abutment with the lower casing member 22 atmultiple portions of the lower mounting surface 541. In this way, thecontrol board 54 is positioned between the casing members 21 and 22.

The control board 54 is formed with a connection hole 542. Theconnection hole 542 is in a substantially rectangular hole shape andextends through the control board 54 between the mounting surfaces 540and 541 at the lateral center. The imaging board 51 and the assemblyholder 31 are inserted through the connection hole 542. In this way, theimaging board 51 and the assembly holder 31 are located across the upperside and the lower side of the control board 54. In addition, themounted portion of the imager 34 on the imaging board 51 is located atleast on the upper side of the control board 54. In this example, it maysuffice that the mounted portion of the imager 34 on the imaging board51 is located on the upper side of the control board 54. For example, alower end of the mounted portion may be placed in the connection hole542, as shown in FIG. 2, or may be located on the upper side or thelower side of the connection hole 542 (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, multiple circuit elements configuring thecontrol circuit 55 are mounted on both of the mounting surfaces 540 and541. An external connector 544 that is exposed outside the camera casing20 is mounted on the upper mounting surface 540. The external connector544 is connected to an external circuit such as an ECU outside thecamera casing 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, an internal connector 543 that is exposed in theaccommodation space 25 is mounted on the lower mounting surface 541. Theinternal connector 543 is connected to the other end portion of the FPC53 located below the control board 54. In this way, the control board 54is connected to the imaging board 51 through the FPC 53 to enable toexchange signals or data between the control circuit 55 and the imagingcircuit 52.

The control circuit 55 includes a microcomputer 550 mainly including aprocessor as a circuit element mounted on the lower mounting surface541. In cooperation with the imaging circuit 52, the control circuit 55processes the output from the imager 34 to implement image processing togenerate an outside image 551 as illustrated in FIG. 8. At that time,the outside image 551 is generated so as to enable image recognition ofa structure and an obstacle, which are within the imaging target rangeand are reflected on the image 551. In this example, the imaging targetrange is set so that a traffic signal 5 a is reflected on the outsideimage 551 to enable image recognition when the vehicle 2 comes closer tothe traffic signal 5 a. The traffic signal 5 a is a structure on theupper side of a roof panel of the vehicle 2. At the same time, theimaging target range is set so that a front obstacle 5 c (for example, apedestrian, a bicycle, another vehicle, etc.) entering an intersection 5b from the right and the left is reflected on the outside image 551 toenable image recognition when a front bumper of the vehicle 2 comescloser to the intersection 5 b.

The control circuit 55 further controls the imaging operation of theimager 34, which includes a control of an exposure state during imagingwith the imager 34, in cooperation with the imaging circuit 52. At thattime, a region of effective pixels 551 b is set with exclusion of aregion of a vehicle image capturing pixel 551 a that reflects a part(for example, an engine hood or the like) of the vehicle 2 on a lowerportion of the outside image 551 generated with the image processingfunction as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this way, an exposure state duringa next image capturing time is controlled based on a pixel value of theeffective pixels 551 b in the set region. The pixel value used for theexposure control may be, for example, a gradation value of a specificone pixel, which is in a region of the effective pixels 551 b, orgradation values of multiple pixels in the region of the effectivepixels 551 b.

In addition to the image processing function and the imaging controlfunction described above, the control circuit 55 may be provided with,for example, an image recognition function or the like for imagerecognition of structures and obstacles in the imaging target range andshown in the outside image 551. Alternatively, the control circuit 55may not be provided with the image recognition function. In addition, atleast one of the image processing function or the imaging controlfunction may be provided only with the control circuit 55 or may beprovided only with the imaging circuit 52.

(Detailed Structure of Lens Unit)

Subsequently, a detailed structure of the lens unit 33 will bedescribed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the lens unit 33 includes a lens set 37 at a rearstage that is on the rear side of the wide angle lens 36 in the lensbarrel 35. In other words, the wide angle lens 36 is incorporated in thelens barrel 35 of the lens unit 33 at a front stage on the externalenvironment 5 side which is on the front side of the lens set 37.

In the lens set 37, multiple rear lenses 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375 arealigned in the longitudinal direction for further producing an opticaleffect, such as correction of an optical aberration, for example, achromatic aberration, on the optical image, which has been subjected toan optical operation by the wide angle lens 36. Each of the rear lenses371, 372, 373, 374, and 375 has an aspherical or spherical opticalsurface on each of front and rear sides. An optical axis Al of the lensset 37 as substantially a common optical axis to the respective rearlenses 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375 is substantially common to (that is,substantially identical with) the optical axis Aw of the wide angle lens36. In this way, the optical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 36 as wellas the optical axis Al of the lens set 37 passes through the principalpoint Pp of the lens 36.

The first rear lens 371 at a first arrangement order from the front sideis formed in a biconvex lens shape and made of a light transmissivematerial such as glass and is spaced apart from the wide angle lens 36at a predetermined distance on the rear side. The second rear lens 372at a second arrangement order from the front side is formed in abiconcave lens shape and made of a light transmissive material such asglass and is spaced apart from the first rear lens 371 at apredetermined distance on the rear side. The third rear lens 373 at athird arrangement order from the front side is formed in a biconvex lensshape and made of a light transmissive material such as glass andfixedly overlaps with a rear optical surface of the second rear lens372. The fourth rear lens 374 at a fourth arrangement order from thefront side is formed in a convex meniscus lens shape and made of a lighttransmissive material such as glass and is spaced apart from the thirdrear lens 373 at a predetermined distance on the rear side. The fifthrear lens 375 at a fifth arrangement order from the front side is formedin a biconvex lens shape and made of a light transmissive material suchas glass and is spaced apart from the fourth rear lens 374 at apredetermined distance on the rear side.

As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the wide angle lens 36 has a spherical oraspheric wide angle optical surface 360 (also refer to FIG. 2) on theexternal environment 5 side which is the front side opposite to the rearlenses 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375. In other words, the front opticalsurface of the wide angle lens 36 configures a wide angle opticalsurface 360. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the wide angle optical surface360 is in a cut form at a position below the optical axes Aw and Al ofthe wide angle lens 36 and the lens set 37. In this configuration, anouter contour of the wide angle optical surface 360 viewed from thefront side is in a partial circular shape having an effective diameter.The circular arc portion 360 a excludes a lower portion of the wideangle optical surface 360 and extends in a range, which is less than oneround. A chord portion 360 b extends between both ends of the circulararc portion 360 a. In this example, a linear chord portion 360 b, whichembodies the cut form below the optical axes Aw and Al, is set in astate where both ends of a true circular arc portion 360 a havingsubstantially a constant curvature are connected to each othersubstantially along the lateral direction. Incidentally, the cut form isnot limited to the shape, which is actually cut by machining or thelike, and includes a shape beforehand given by molding or the like.

In the wide angle optical surface 360 described above, a lowermostportion Pwl defined at the lateral center of the chord portion 360 b andan uppermost portion Pwu defined at the lateral center of the arcportion 360 a are vertically symmetrical with respect to a geometriccenter Cwg in a projection view viewed from the front side. In otherwords, the geometric center Cwg of the wide angle optical surface 360 isdefined as a midpoint at which a distance between the lowermost portionPwl and the uppermost portion Pwu of the optical surface 360 is equallydivided in the projection view viewed from the front side.

Under the definitions described above, the geometric center Cwg of thewide angle optical surface 360 is shifted upward from the respectiveoptical axes Aw and Al of the wide angle lens 36 and the lens set 37. Inthis configuration, the size of the wide angle optical surface 360 islarger on the upper side of the optical axes Aw and Al than on the lowerside of the optical axes Aw and Al. In other words, an upper size Rwu,which is defined as a distance (that is, a diameter) from the opticalaxes Aw and Al to the uppermost portion Pwu on the wide optical surface360, is set to be larger than a lower size Rwl, which is defined as adistance (that is, a diameter) from the optical axes Aw and A1 to thelowermost portion Pwl on the wide angle optical surface 360.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the lens barrel 35 includes a lens barrelmain body 350, spacers 351, 352, 353, 354, and caps 355, 356. The lensbarrel main body 350 is made of a relatively easily moldable rigidmaterial such as resin. The lens barrel main body 350 has a pair ofaccommodation portions 350 a and 350 b that define the front opticalpath space 357. As shown in FIG. 9, an inner contour of the wide angleaccommodation portion 350 a is in a partial tubular hole shape, which isalong an outer contour of the wide angle optical surface 360. An outerperipheral surface 362 of the wide angle lens 36 is fitted into the wideangle accommodation portion 350 a from the front side.

An inner contour of the rear accommodation portion 350 b is in a tubularhole shape, which is along an outer contour of the rear lenses 371, 372,374, and 375. The first rear lens 371 is fitted into the rearaccommodation portion 350 b from the front side. In addition, anintegrally fixed object of the second and third rear lenses 372 and 373and each of the fourth and fifth rear lenses 374 and 375 are fitted intothe rear accommodation portion 350 b from the rear side.

The first spacer 351 is formed in an annular plate shape having apartial circular outer contour and a tubular hole shaped inner contour.The first spacer 351 is made of a relatively easily moldable rigidmaterial such as resin. The first spacer 351 is fitted into the wideangle accommodation portion 350 a from the front side. The first spacer351 locks the wide angle lens 36 from the rear side and locks the firstrear lens 371 from the front side. The second spacer 352 is formed in anannular plate shape integrally with the rear accommodation portion 350 bby, for example, resin molding or the like. The second spacer 352 holdsthe first rear lens 371 from the rear side and interposes the first rearlens 371 with the first spacer 351 therebetween. The second spacer 352locks the second rear lens 372 from the front side.

The third and fourth spacers 353 and 354 are formed in a tubular shapeand made of a relatively easily moldable rigid material such as resin.The third and fourth spacers 353 and 354 are fitted into the rearaccommodation portion 350 b from the rear side. The third spacer 353holds the second rear lens 372 from the rear side and interposes thesecond rear lens 372 with the second spacer 352 therebetween. The fourthspacer 354 holds the fourth rear lens 374 from the rear side andinterposes the fourth rear lens 374 with the third spacer 353. Thefourth spacer 354 locks the fifth rear lens 375 from the front side.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the front cap 355 is formed in an annularplate shape and has a partial circular outer contour and an innercontour. The front cap 355 is made of a relatively easily moldable rigidmaterial such as resin. The front cap 355 is externally fitted to thewide angle accommodation portion 350 a from the front side, and inparticular, the front cap 355 may be adhered to the wide angleaccommodation portion 350 a at the outer fitting portion. The front cap355 holds the wide angle lens 36 locked from the front side andinterposes the wide angle lens 36 with the first spacer 351.

In this example, a locking claw portion 355 a is provided in the frontcap 355 for locking the wide angle optical surface 360 of the wide anglelens 36. The locking claw portion 355 a is formed in a partially annularshape by, for example, resin molding in advance, before theouter-fitting of the cap 355 to the wide angle accommodation portion 350a. In the first embodiment, a locked portion of the wide angle lens 36with the locking claw portion 355 a is shifted toward the rear side fromthe lowermost portion Pwl of the chord portion 360 b toward theuppermost portion Pwu of the arc portion 360 a in a circumferentialdirection along the outer contour of the wide angle optical surface 360.

As shown in FIG. 9, the rear cap 356 is made of a relatively easilymoldable rigid material such as resin and formed in an annular plateshape. The rear cap 356 is fitted into the rear accommodation portion350 b from the rear side. In particular, the rear cap 356 may be screwedor adhered to the rear accommodation portion 350 b at the fittingportion. The rear cap 356 locks the fifth rear lens 375 from the rearside and interposes the fifth rear lens 375 with the fourth spacer 354.

In the lens unit 33 configured as described above, breathing (forexample, air ventilation or the like) is enabled between the frontoptical path space 357 in the lens barrel main body 350 and the outsidethrough clearances between the respective accommodation portions 350 aand 350 b and the respective components accommodated in theaccommodation portions 350 a and 350 b.

(Detailed Structure of Imager)

Subsequently, a detailed structure of the imager 34 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 12, the imager 34 of FIG. 2 has an effective imagecapturing region 340 as a region capable of capturing an inverted imageof the optical image, which is formed through the wide angle lens 36 andthe lens set 37. In other words, the effective image capturing region340 represents a region, which is capable of sensing the light from theexternal environment 5 through the wide angle lens 36 and the lens set37, in a planar shape within the outer contour when viewed from thefront side of the imager 34. The effective image capturing region 340 isformed around the optical axes Aw and Al on the front surface 340 eside. The front surface 340 e is substantially perpendicular to each ofthe optical axes Aw and Al of the wide angle lens 36 and the lens set 37of the imager 34. In this configuration, the outline of the effectiveimage capturing region 340 viewed from the front side is in arectangular shape having two upper and lower sides 340 a and 340 b andtwo left and right sides 340 c and 340 d. In this example, the two upperand lower sides 340 a and 340 b are located substantially along thelateral direction. On the other hand, the two left and right sides 340 cand 340 d are located such that the further the two left and right sides340 c and 340 d get closer toward the upper side in the verticaldirection, the further the two left and right sides 340 c and 340 d areinclined to the front side or the rear side. Alternatively, the two leftand right sides 340 c and 340 d are located along the verticaldirection.

In the effective image capturing region 340 described above, thelowermost portion Pil, which is defined at the lateral center of thelower side 340 b, and the uppermost portion Piu, which is defined at thelateral center of the upper side 340 a, are vertically symmetrical toeach other with respect to the geometric center Cig in a projection viewviewed from the front side. In other words, the geometric center Cig ofthe effective image capturing region 340 is defined as a midpoint atwhich a distance between the lowermost portion Pil and the uppermostportion Piu of the region 340 is equally divided in the projection viewviewed from the front side.

Under the definitions described above, the geometric center Cig of theeffective image capturing region 340 is shifted downward from therespective optical axes Aw and Al of the wide angle lens 36 and the lensset 37. In this way, the size of the effective image capturing region340 is larger on the lower side of the optical axes Aw and Al than onthe upper side of the optical axes Aw and Al. In other words, a lowersize Ril defined as a distance from the optical axes Aw and Al to thelowermost portion Pil in the region 340 is set to be larger than anupper size Riu defined as a distance from the optical axes Aw and A1 tothe uppermost portion Piu in the effective image capturing region 340.

(Operational Effects)

Operational effects of the first embodiment described above will bedescribed below.

According to the lens unit 33 of the first embodiment, the wide anglelens 36 forms the optical image, which is from the external environment5 of the vehicle 2, on the imager 34. The wide angle optical surface 360is on the external environment side 5 in the wide angle lens 36. Thesize of the wide angle optical surface 360 on the upper side of theoptical axis Aw is larger than that on the lower side of the opticalaxis Aw in the wide angle lens 36. Similarly, the size of the wide angleoptical surface 360 on the upper side of the optical axis A1 (that is,the optical axes of the rear lenses 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375) of therear lens set 37 passing through the principal point Pp of the wideangle lens 36 is larger than that on the lower side of the optical axisAl. According to the configuration, the size of the wide angle opticalsurface 360 on the upper side of the optical axes Aw and Al, whichunlikely reflects the vehicle 2, is larger than that on the lower sideof the optical axes Aw and Al, which likely reflects the vehicle 2.Therefore, on the upper side where the size of the wide angle opticalsurface 360 becomes larger, the upper side range of the externalenvironment 5 above the vehicle 2 can be imaged to enable imagerecognition. On the other hand, on the lower side where the imagingtarget range of the external environment 5 is restricted due to thevehicle 2, even though the size of the wide angle optical surface 360becomes small, imaging within that range can be secured, and thereby,downsizing of the camera module 1 can be enabled.

According to the lens unit 33 of the first embodiment, the wide anglelens 36 forms the optical image, which is from the external environment5 of the vehicle 2, on the imager 34. The geometric center Cwg of thewide angle optical surface 360 of the wide angle lens 36, which is onthe external environment 5 side, is shifted toward the upper side of theoptical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 36. Similarly, the geometriccenter Cwg of the wide angle optical surface 360 is shifted toward theupper side of the optical axis Al (that is, the optical axes of the rearlenses 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375) of the rear lens set 37. The opticalaxis Al passes through the principal point Pp of the wide angle lens 36.According to the configuration, the geometric center Cwg of the wideangle optical surface 360 is shifted not toward the lower side of theoptical axes Aw and Al, which likely reflects the vehicle 2, but towardthe upper side of the optical axes Aw and Al, which unlikely reflectsthe vehicle 2. Therefore, on the upper side where the size of the wideangle optical surface 360 becomes larger than that on the lower sideaccording to the shift amount of the geometric center Cwg, the upperside range of the external environment 5 than the vehicle 2 can beimaged to enable image recognition. On the other hand, on the lower sidewhere the imaging target range of the external environment 5 isrestricted due to the vehicle 2, imaging in that range can be securedeven though the size of the wide angle optical surface 360 decreasesaccording to the shift amount of the geometric center Cwg. Theconfiguration enables to downsize the camera module 1.

In addition, according to the imager 34 of the first embodiment, theeffective image capturing region 340 is capable of capturing theinverted image of the optical image, which is from the externalenvironment 5 of the vehicle 2 and is formed thereon. The size of theeffective image capturing region 340 on the lower side of the opticalaxis Aw of the wide angle lens 36 is larger than that on the upper sideof the optical axis Aw. Similarly, the optical axis A1 (that is, theoptical axes of the rear lenses 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375) of the rearlens set 37 passes through the principal point Pp of the wide angle lens36. In addition, the size of the effective image capturing region 340 onthe lower side of the optical axis A1 is larger than that on the upperside of the optical axis Al. The configuration enables to secure thearea, in which the inverted image is formed, on the lower side where thesize of the effective image capturing region 340 becomes larger. Theinverted image is from the upper side range of the external environment5 than the vehicle 2. Therefore, the configuration enables to set theupper range, which is to be imaged, as wide as possible.

In addition, according to the imager 34 of the first embodiment, theeffective image capturing region 340 is capable of capturing theinverted image of the optical image, which is from the externalenvironment 5 of the vehicle 2 and is formed thereon. The geometriccenter Cig of the effective image capturing region 340 is shifted towardthe lower side of the optical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 36.Similarly, the geometric center Cig of the effective image capturingregion 340 is shifted toward the lower side of the optical axis Al (thatis, the optical axes of the rear lenses 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375) ofthe rear lens set 37 passing through the principal point Pp of the wideangle lens 36. According to the configuration, the size of the effectiveimage capturing region 340 becomes larger on the lower side than that onthe higher side according to the shift amount of the geometric centerCig. Therefore, the configuration enables to secure the area, in whichthe inverted image from the upper side range of the external environment5 is formed. In addition, the configuration enables to set the upperrange than the vehicle 2 to be imaged as wide as possible.

Further, according to the wide angle lens 36 of the first embodiment,the size of the wide angle optical surface 360 formed in the cut form onthe lower side of the principal point Pp is larger on the upper side ofthe principal point Pp. According to the configuration, the wide anglelens 36, which is for imaging the upper side range of the externalenvironment 5 above the vehicle 2 to enable image recognition, can bemanufactured in a small size and in a relatively simple shape.

According to the first embodiment, the lens unit 33 and the imager 34are accommodated in the camera casing 20. The accommodationconfiguration described above enables to set the size of the wide angleoptical surface 360 in the lens unit 33 to be smaller on the lower sidethan that on the upper side. Therefore, the camera casing 20 can berestricted from increasing in size while ensuring the accommodationspace necessary for the imager 34.

According to the first embodiment, the circuit unit 50, in which thecontrol circuit 55 for controlling the imager 34 is mounted on thecontrol board 54, is accommodated in the camera casing 20 together withthe lens unit 33 and the imager 34. In the configuration describedabove, the size of the wide angle optical surface 360 in the lens unit33 is set to be smaller on the lower side than that on the upper side.Therefore, not only the accommodation space necessary for the imager 34but also the accommodation space necessary for the circuit unit 50 isensured while increase in the size of the camera casing 20 can bereduced.

In addition, the control circuit 55 of the first embodiment controls theexposure during imaging with the imager 34 based on the pixel values ofthe effective pixels 551 b, which is set with exclusion of the vehicleimage capturing pixels 551 a in the outside image 551 generated by imageprocessing of the output from the imager 34. According to theconfiguration, the vehicle 2 is not reflected. Therefore, the pixelvalues of the effective pixels 551 b, which are likely to follow thebrightness of the external environment 5, can be reflected in theexposure control. In other words, the pixel values of the vehicle imagecapturing pixels 551 a, which are unlikely to follow the brightness ofthe external environment 5 due to the reflection of the vehicle 2, isrestricted from being reflected in the exposure control, and the upperside range of the external environment 5 above the vehicle 2 can beimaged in an exposure state suitable for image recognition.

Further, according to the circuit unit 50 of the first embodiment, theimaging board 51, on which the imager 34 is mounted, and the controlboard 54, on which the control circuit 55 is mounted, are connected toeach other while a manufacturing tolerance is absorbed with the FPC 53,and can be easily accommodated at specified positions in the cameracasing 20. Moreover, the imaging board 51, on which the imager 34 ismounted at least on the upper side of the control board 54, is locatedacross the upper side and the lower side of the control board 54.Therefore, the accommodation space necessary for the circuit unit 50 canbe reduced vertically.

Further, according to the camera casing 20 of the first embodiment, theopposing wall portion 210 is located in a posture in which the bent wallportion 211, which is bent relative to the opposing wall portion 210,faces the front windshield 3 and in which the bent wall portion 211 isspaced apart from the front windshield 3 such that the further the bentwall portion 211 is distant away from the opposing wall portion 210, thefurther the bent wall portion 211 is spaced away from the frontwindshield 3. According to the configuration, the ridge-shaped portion214 is formed with the bent wall portion 211 and the opposing wallportion 210. The lens unit 33 is passed through the bent wall portion211 for exposure to the outside of the camera casing 20. Theconfiguration enables the camera casing 20 to be mounted inside thefront windshield 3 in a state, in which the ridge-shaped portion 214 isbrought closer to the front windshield 3. Therefore, according to thesmall-sized camera casing 20 to be mounted close to the front windshield3, not only an occupant's field of view of the external environment 5can be secured but also an optical path from the external environment 5to the lens unit 33 can be ensured between the bent wall portion 211 andthe front windshield 3.

Further, the hood 40 of the first embodiment enables to restrictincidence of excess light from the external environment 5 outside theimaging target range of the imager 34 to the lens unit 33. Theconfiguration enables to restrict excess light, which is likely to enterthe lens unit 33 in which the angle of view of the lens unit 33 isexpanded with the wide angle lens 36, from being superimposed on anormal optical image within the imaging target range and frominterfering with the imaging.

Further, according to the hood 40 of the first embodiment, in the basewall portion 41 located to face the front windshield 3, the multiplerestriction ribs 411 protrude toward the front windshield 3 thereby torestrict the light reflection on the lens unit 33. The configuration canrestrict light, which is reflected on the base wall portion 41 and islikely to increase light incidence, from being superimposed on thenormal optical image within the imaging target range and frominterfering with the imaging, under the placement where the base wallportion 41 faces the front windshield 3.

In addition, according to the hood 40 of the first embodiment, thespecific ribs 411 a as the restriction ribs 411 having a high protrusionheight around the lens unit 33 are likely to block an optical path inwhich the reflected light on the base wall portion 41 travels toward thewide angle lens 36. The configuration enables to restrict light, whichis reflected on the base wall portion 41 and is likely to enter the lensunit 33 in which the angle of view is expanded, from being superimposedon the normal optical image within the imaging target range and frominterfering with the imaging.

(Second Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 13, a second embodiment is a modification of the firstembodiment.

A wide angle lens 2036 according to the second embodiment includes alocked recess portion 2361 recessed rearward on an outer peripheral sideof a wide angle optical surface 2360. The wide angle optical surface2360 according to the second embodiment has substantially the sameconfiguration as that of the first embodiment except for a configurationhaving a partial circular outer contour reduced in substantially asimilar shape to the wide angle optical surface 360 of the firstembodiment, when viewed from a front side.

More specifically, the locked recess portion 2361 is formed in a recessgroove shape. The locked recess portion 2361 is in a partial circularshape and is continuous in the entire outer peripheral portion of thewide angle lens 2036. The locked recess portion 2361 opens to an outerperipheral surface 2362 fitted into the wide angle accommodation portion350 a in the wide angle lens 2036 and the wide angle optical surface2360 of the lens 2036.

A recessed inner surface 2361 b of the locked recess portion 2361, whichfaces radially outward and is in a partial tubular shape, is formedalong an outer contour of the wide angle optical surface 2360. Forexample, a black coating film is formed on an entire surface of therecessed inner surface 2361 b to form a reflection restriction portion2363 for absorbing light and restricting reflection of the light. Aplanar recess inner bottom surface 2361 a of the locked recess portion2361 faces the front side and is locked with a locking claw portion 2355a of a front cap 2355. The front cap 2355 is externally fitted to a wideangle accommodation portion 350 a of a lens barrel 2035. A lockingposition of the recess inner bottom surface 2361 a, which is locked withthe locking claw portion 2355 a, is located on a common plane Sc, whichis substantially perpendicular to respective optical axes Aw and Al ofthe wide angle lens 36 and the lens set 37, in an entire circumferentialdirection along an outer contour of the wide angle optical surface 2360.In other words, the locking portion according to the second embodimentis not substantially displaced back and forth. The size of the recessinner bottom surface 2361 a in the radial direction is set such that,for example, the size at a lowermost portion of the recess inner bottomsurface 2361 a is set to be equal to or smaller than the size at anuppermost portion. In the configuration, the operational effects, whichare produced by the size setting on the wide angle optical surface 2360similarly to that in the first embodiment, are unlikely reduced.

According to the wide angle lens 2036 of the second embodiment describedabove, the locked recess portion 2361 recessed on the outer peripheralside of the wide angle optical surface 2360 is locked with the lensbarrel 2035. In this example, the locking portion of the locked recessportion 2361 locked with the locking claw portion 2355 a is located onthe common plane Sc in the circumferential direction along the outercontour of the wide angle optical surface 2360. In this way, anaccommodation posture of the wide angle lens 2036 in the lens barrel2035 can be stabilized. The configuration enables to reduce occurrenceof imaging failure of the outside image 551 due to variation in postureof the wide angle lens 2036.

Incidentally, the configurations other than those of the wide angle lens2036 and the lens barrel 2035 according to the second embodiment aresubstantially the same as those of the wide angle lens 36 and the lensbarrel 35 in the first embodiment. Therefore, likewise, the sameoperational effects as those of the first embodiment can be producedaccording to the second embodiment.

(Third Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 14, a third embodiment is a modification of the firstembodiment.

As components of a circuit unit 3050 according to the third embodiment,a relay member 3056 is combined with boards 51, 54, an FPC 3053, andcircuits 52, 55. The relay member 3056 is accommodated in anaccommodation space 3025 of a metal camera casing 3020 together with theFPC 3053 and the like. The metal camera casing 3020 is formed withcasing members 3021 and 3022 which are made of, for example, aluminum.The relay member 3056 is fixed to a bottom wall portion 3220 of thelower casing member 3022 of the camera casing 3020 in a contact manneror in a fitting manner. The relay member 3056 is formed in a flat pieceshape and is made of a functional material such as a metal filler mixedwith a resin base. In this way, at least one of a thermal radiationproperty or a conductivity (hereinafter simply referred to as thethermal radiation property and the conductivity) as a specific propertyis given to the relay member 3056. The relay member 3056 may be formedin, for example, a cushion shape, a foam shape, or the like, to providea cushioning property.

In this example, a thermal radiation base film or a thermal radiationdummy wiring in the FPC 3053 is connected to the imaging board 51together with the relay member 3056 having the thermal radiationproperty in a contact and fixing manner, thereby to provide a thermalradiation path. In addition, a ground wiring of the FPC 3053 having theconductivity is connected to the imaging board 51 together with therelay member 3056 having the conductivity in an electrically conductiveand fixing manner, thereby to form an electrically conductive path. Inany of those connection structures, the imaging board 51, on which theimaging circuit 52 for image processing the output from the imager 34 ismounted, is in a state of being connected to the camera casing 3020through the FPC 3053 and the relay member 3056. Incidentally, theconfigurations other than the configuration described for the FPC 3053according to the third embodiment are substantially the same as those ofthe FPC 53 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the imagingboard 51 is also connected to the control board 54 through the FPC 3053by electrically conductive fixation.

According to the circuit unit 3050 of the third embodiment describedabove, the FPC 3053 accommodated in and connected to the metal cameracasing 3020 is connected to the imaging board 51 on which the imagingcircuit 52 for image processing is mounted. According to theconfiguration, at least one of heat or noise (at least one of themcorresponding to the connection structure described above in the thirdembodiment) generated in the imaging board 51 can be transferred to thecamera casing 3020 through the FPC 3053. Therefore, at least one of athermal radiation property or an EMC can be enhanced. In particular,according to the third embodiment, the FPC 3053 connecting the imagingboard 51 to the control board 54 is leveraged for transferring at leastone of heat or noise. Therefore, at least one of the thermal radiationproperty or the EMC can be enhanced with a simple configuration.

According to the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, since thelens unit 33 includes the wide angle lens 36, the imaging target rangeof the external environment 5 is enlarged. As a result, the imageprocessing amount in the imaging board 51 increases so that the heatgeneration amount and noise are also likely to increase. However, atleast one of heat or noise can be transferred to the camera casing 3020according to the above principle. Therefore, at least one of the thermalradiation property or the EMC can be enhanced. In addition to the aboveeffects, according to the third embodiment, the same operational effectsas those in the first embodiment can be produced.

(Fourth Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 15, a fourth embodiment is a modification of the firstand third embodiments.

As components of a circuit unit 4050 according to the fourth embodiment,another FPC 4053 different from an FPC 53 is combined with the FPC 53 ofthe first embodiment which is substituted for the FPC 3053 of the thirdembodiment, together with boards 51, 54 and circuits 52, 55. The FPC4053 is accommodated in the accommodation space 3025 of a camera casing3020 together with the FPC 53 and the like. As with the FPC 53, the FPC4053 is formed by holding a conductive wire on a base film made of, forexample, a flexible resin or the like, and is formed in a substantiallyrectangular band shape as a whole.

In this example, a thermal radiation base film or a thermal radiationdummy wiring of the FPC 4053 is connected to the opposing wall portion210 of the upper casing member 3021 in the metal camera casing 3020together with the imaging board 51 in a contact and fixing manner,thereby to provide a thermal radiation path. In addition, a groundwiring having the conductivity in the FPC 4053 is connected to theopposing wall portion 210 together with the imaging board 51 in anelectrically conductive and fixing manner, thereby to form anelectrically conductive path. In any of those connection structures, theimaging board 51, on which the imaging circuit 52 for image processingthe output from the imager 34 is mounted, is in a state of beingconnected to the camera casing 3020 through the FPC 4053.

According to the circuit unit 4050 of the fourth embodiment describedabove, the FPC 4053 accommodated in and connected to the metal cameracasing 3020 is connected to the imaging board 51 on which the imagingcircuit 52 for image processing is mounted. According to theconfiguration, at least one of heat or noise (at least one of themcorresponding to the connection structure described above in the fourthembodiment) generated in the imaging board 51 can be transferred to thecamera casing 3020 through the FPC 4053. Therefore, at least one of athermal radiation property or an EMC can be enhanced.

According to the fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, sincethe lens unit 33 includes the wide angle lens 36, the imaging targetrange of the external environment 5 is enlarged. As a result, the imageprocessing amount in the imaging board 51 increases so that the heatgeneration amount and noise are also likely to increase. However, atleast one of heat or noise can be transferred to the camera casing 3020according to the above principle. Therefore, at least one of the thermalradiation property or the EMC can be enhanced. In addition to the aboveeffects, according to the fourth embodiment, the same operationaleffects as those in the first embodiment can be produced.

(Fifth Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 16, a fifth embodiment is a modification of the fourthembodiment.

As components of a metal camera casing 5020 according to the fifthembodiment, connection members 5023 are combined with casing members3021 and 3022 and are accommodated in the accommodation space 3025. Theconnection members 5023 are formed in, for example, a rigid frame shapeand made of metal such as aluminum. In this way, at least one of thethermal radiation property or the conductivity is given to theconnection members 5023. The connection members 5023 are connected tothe opposing wall portion 210 of the upper casing member 3021 of themetal camera casing 3020 by screw fixing or by fitting fixation. Theconnection members 5023 may be integrally formed with the opposing wallportion 210. Although two connection members 5023 are provided in theexample of FIG. 16, one or three or more connection members 5023 may beprovided.

In this example, a thermal radiation base film or a thermal radiationdummy wiring in FPCs 4053 is connected to the imaging board 51 and theconnection members 5023 in a contact and fixing manner, thereby to forma thermal radiation path. In addition, a ground wiring having theconductivity in the FPCs 4053 is connected to the imaging board 51 andthe connection members 5023 in an electrically conductive and fixingmanner, thereby to form an electrically conductive path. In any of thoseconnection structures, the imaging board 51, on which the imagingcircuit 52 for image processing the output from the imager 34 ismounted, is in a state of being connected to the camera casing 5020through the FPCs 4053 and the connection members 5023. Although two FPCs4053 are provided in correspondence with the number of connectionmembers 5023 in the example of FIG. 16, one or three or more connectionmembers 5023 may be provided.

The connection members 5023 further abut against the lens barrel 35 orthe assembly holder 31 of the image assembly 30, thereby to lock theabutment target. In this way, the lens unit 33 and the imager 34 arepositioned relative to the camera casing 5020. As shown in FIG. 16, inthe case of a structure in which the connection members 5023 lock thelens barrel 35, the lens barrel 35 is screwed not to both end portions311 of the assembly holder 31 but to the connection members 5023.Although not shown, in a case where the connection members 5023 lock theassembly holder 31, both the end portions 311 of the holder 31 arescrewed to the connection members 5023.

According to the fifth embodiment described above, with a change to theconnection members 5023 as required by product specifications, apositioning state of the lens unit 33 and the imager 34 can be adjustedwith high precision and the same operational effects as those in thefourth embodiment can be produced.

(Sixth Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 17, a sixth embodiment is a modification of the fourthembodiment.

In a metal camera casing 6020 according to the sixth embodiment, a hood6040 is formed with a recess wall portion 6212 of an upper casing member6021. In other words, the hood 6040 configures a part of the cameracasing 6020. In this way, in the recess wall portion 6212, the releasehole 217 also serves as the incident hole 421 of the hood 6040.

In a bracket assembly 6010 according to the sixth embodiment, thebracket main body 11 is not provided, and the cushion 13 and a mountingpad 12 are held by the upper casing member 6021 in the camera casing6020. In this way, an opposing wall portion 6210 of the upper casingmember 6021, to which an FPC 4053 is connected, is located so as to bedirectly oppose to the inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3,thereby to be kept as close as possible to the windshield 3.

In this example, a thermal radiation base film or a thermal radiationdummy wiring of the FPC 4053 is connected to an imaging board 51 and theopposing wall portion 6210 in a contact and fixing manner, thereby toprovide a thermal radiation path. In this way, the opposing wall portion6210 having the thermal radiation property is attained. A ground wiringof the FPC 4053 having the conductivity may be connected to the imagingboard 51 and the opposing wall portion 6210 in an electricallyconductive and fixing manner, thereby to form an electrically conductivepath.

According to the sixth embodiment described above, thermal radiationfrom the opposing wall portion 6210 enables to reduce or eliminatefogging caused by dew condensation on the front windshield 3. The frontwindshield 3 is located to face the opposing wall portion 6210 of themetal camera casing 6020, which has the thermal radiation property.Therefore, according to the sixth embodiment, the same operationaleffects as those in the fourth embodiment can be produced while thethermal radiation from the opposing wall portion 6210 is used tocontribute to countermeasures against dew condensation in the vehicle 2.

(Seventh Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 18, a seventh embodiment is a modification of thefourth embodiment.

As components of an image assembly 7030 according to the seventhembodiment, a filler 7038 is combined with an assembly holder 7031, thelens unit 33, and the imager 34. In the image assembly 7030 that isaccommodated in the accommodation space 3025 of the metal camera casing3020, a rear optical path space 7310 is defined by the assembly holder7031. The assembly holder 7031 is configured with two members 7031 a and7031 b. The rear optical path space 7310 is filled with the filler 7038.The filler 7038 is made of, for example, a functional material in whicha metal filler is mixed with a resin base. In this way, the filler 7038is provided with at least one of the thermal radiation property or theconductivity. The filler 7038 may be formed into a gel or the like toprovide a buffering property.

In a circuit unit 7050 according to the seventh embodiment, an imagingboard 7051, on which an imaging circuit 52 is mounted, is accommodatedin the rear optical path space 7310. The imaging circuit 52 is forprocessing the output from the imager 34, which is to image processing.The imaging board 7051 is fixed and is in contact with the lens barrel35. In this way, a front mounting surface 7510 of the imaging board 7051closes the front optical path space 357, which is defined by the lensbarrel 35, from the rear side. Together with the imager 34, circuitelements configuring the imaging circuit 52 are mounted on a part of thefront mounting surface 7510, which is exposed to the front optical pathspace 357. In this way, the imager 34 accommodated in the lens barrel 35and located in the front optical path space 357 is enabled to image theexternal environment 5 in a state where being restricted from exposureto the rear optical path space 7310 filled with the filler 7038.

In this example, a surface of the imaging board 7051 which is exposed tothe rear optical path space 7310 is connected to the filler 7038 havingthe thermal radiation property in a contact and fixing manner, therebyto provide a thermal radiation path. Further, a ground electrode of theimaging board 7051 exposed to the rear optical path space 7310 isconnected to the filler 7038 having the conductivity in an electricallyconductive and fixing manner, thereby to form an electrically conductivepath. In any of those connection structures, the imaging board 7051, onwhich the imaging circuit 52 for image processing the output from theimager 34 is mounted, is connected to the filler 7038.

The assembly holder 7031 is provided with a through window 7133, whichis in the form of a through hole continuous from the rear optical pathspace 7310 and is filled with the filler 7038. In the circuit unit 7050,the FPC 53 passes through the filler 7038 with which the through window7133 is filled. The FPC 53 is inserted into the rear optical path space7310 and is connected to the imaging board 7051 in the front opticalpath space 357. The assembly holder 7031 is further provided with aconnection window 7134 in the form of a through hole continuous from therear optical path space 7310 and filled with the filler 7038. In thecircuit unit 7050, the FPC 4053 is connected to the filler 7038 withwhich the connection window 7134 is filled.

In this example, a thermal radiation base film or a thermal radiationdummy wiring of the FPC 4053 is connected to the opposing wall portion210 of the upper casing member 3021 of the metal camera casing 3020 andthe filler 7038, which is in the connection window 7134 and has theconductivity, in a contact and fixing manner, thereby to provide athermal radiation path. In addition, a conductive ground wiring of theFPC 4053 is connected to the opposing wall portion 210 together with thefiller 7038, which is in the connection window 7134 and has theconductivity, in an electrically conductive and fixing manner, therebyto form an electrically conductive path. In any of those connectionstructures, the camera casing 3020 is connected to the filler 7038through the FPC 4053, and also connected to the imaging board 7051through the FPC 4053 and the filler 7038.

According to the seventh embodiment described above, the filler 7038having the specific property, which is at least one of the thermalradiation property or the conductivity, is filled in a partitioned space7310 of the assembly holder 7031 and is connected to the metal cameracasing 3020. The partitioned space 7310 accommodates the imaging board7051 on which the imaging circuit 52 for image processing is mounted.According to the configuration, at least one of heat or noise generatedin the imaging board 7051 can be transferred to the camera casing 3020through the filler 7038. Therefore, at least one of a thermal radiationproperty or an EMC can be enhanced.

Further, the imaging board 7051 according to the seventh embodiment isconnected with the metal camera casing 3020 through the FPC 4053 and thefiller 7038 having the specific property. In this way, a releasing pathfor at least one of heat or noise can be provided between the imagingboard 7051 and the camera casing 3020 in a state where a manufacturingtolerance can be absorbed by bending the FPC 4053. Therefore, thereleasing path for enhancing at least one of the thermal radiationproperty or the EMC can be secured even in a small space in thedownsized camera casing 3020. In addition to the above effects,according to the seventh embodiment, the same operational effects asthose in the fourth embodiment can be produced.

(Eighth Embodiment)

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, an eighth embodiment is a modification ofthe fourth embodiment.

As components of an image assembly 8030 according to the eighthembodiment, an adhesive 8039 is combined with the assembly holder 7031,the lens unit 33, and the imager 34 together with the filler 7038. Theadhesive 8039 adheres each of the lens unit 33 and the assembly holder7031, which are fixed to each other, to the camera casing 3020. As shownin FIG. 19, in the eighth embodiment, more particularly, the adhesive8039 extends continuously from a portion between the lens barrel 35 ofthe lens unit 33 and the bent wall portion 211 of an upper casing member3021 to a portion between the assembly holder 7031 and the bent wallportion 211. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, in the eighth embodiment, aspace between the lens window 216 of the bent wall portion 211 and thelens barrel 35 of the lens unit 33 is fully filled with the adhesive8039. The lens window 216 is the through hole exposing the lens unit 33to the outside of the camera casing 3020.

The adhesive 8039 is produced by curing a liquid functional materialsuch as a metal filler mixed with a resin base. Before the adhesive 8039is cured, an adhesive posture of the lens unit 33 and the assemblyholder 7031 is adjusted so as to position the lens unit 33 and theimager 34 relative to the camera casing 3020. Further, after theadhesive 8039 has been cured, the adhesive 8039 having at least one ofthe thermal radiation property or the conductivity adheres both of thelens unit 33 and the assembly holder 7031 to the metal camera casing3020. Under the above state, the adhesive 8039 spreads over the outersurface of the filler 7038 exposed from the inside of the connectionwindow 7134 of the assembly holder 7031. In this way, the imaging board7051 is connected to the adhesive 8039 through the filler 7038. Theimaging circuit 52, which is for image processing the output from theimager 34, is mounted on the imaging board 7051. In the eighthembodiment described above, there is no need to fasten both end portions311 of the assembly holder 31 to the upper casing member 21 with ascrew.

In this example, a thermal radiation base film or a thermal radiationdummy wiring of the FPC 4053 is connected to the opposing wall portion210 of the upper casing member 3021 of the camera casing 3020 togetherwith the adhesive 8039 and the filler 7038, each of which has theconductivity, in a contact and fixing manner, thereby to provide athermal radiation path. In addition, a conductive ground wiring of theFPC 4053 is connected to the opposing wall portion 210 together with theadhesive 8039 and the filler 7038, each of which has the conductivity,in an electrically conductive and fixing manner, thereby to form anelectrically conductive path. In any of those connection structures, thecamera casing 3020 is connected to the filler 7038 through the adhesive8039 and the FPC 4053, and is further connected to the imaging board7051 through the components 8039, 4053, and 7038.

According to the eighth embodiment described above, the adhesive 8039having the specific property, which is at least one of the thermalradiation property or the conductivity, adheres at least one of the lensunit 33 or the assembly holder 7031, which is accommodated in the metalcamera casing 3020, to the camera casing 3020, in a connection statewith the imaging board 7051 on which the imaging circuit 52 for imageprocessing is mounted. According to the configuration, at least one ofheat or noise generated in the imaging board 7051 can be transferred tothe camera casing 3020 through the adhesive 8039. Therefore, at leastone of a thermal radiation property or an EMC can be enhanced.

Further, according to the eighth embodiment, the clearance between thelens window 216 and the lens unit 33 is filled with the adhesive 8039,which has the specific property and is connected to the imaging board7051. The lens window 216 is the through hole for exposing the lens unit33 in the metal camera casing 3020 to the outside of the camera casing3020. According to the configuration, an adhesive area between theadhesive 8039 and the camera casing 3020 increases, thereby to enable toenhance a releasing efficiency of at least one of heat or noise. At thesame time, the clearance between the lens window 216 and the lens unit33 is filled, thereby being capable of restricting occurrence of amalfunction caused by foreign matter entering into the camera casing3020 through a space between the lens window 216 and the lens unit 33.The configuration enables to improve reliability of enhancing at leastone of the thermal radiation property or the EMC as well as thedurability.

Further, according to the eighth embodiment, the metal camera casing3020 is connected to the imaging board 7051 on which the imager 34 ismounted through the adhesive 8039 and the filler 7038 having thespecific property. According to the configuration, the releasing pathfor at least one of heat or noise can be formed between the imagingboard 7051 and the camera casing 3020 in a state in which the adhesiveposture of the lens unit 33 and the assembly holder 7031 held with theadhesive 8039 can be adjusted. Therefore, the same operational effectsas those in the seventh embodiment can be produced while the positioningstate of the lens unit 33 and the imager 34 is simply adjusted with anadhesive posture adjustment conforming to product specifications.

(Ninth Embodiment)

As illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 29, a ninth embodiment is a modificationof the first embodiment.

In the ninth embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 to 24, a hood 9040 having alight shielding property (in other words, non-transmissibility) includesa base wall portion 9041 and side wall portions 9043 together with therear end wall portion 42. The base wall portion 9041 and the side wallportions 9043 are respectively substituted for the base wall portion 41and the side wall portions 43 in the first embodiment.

In the vehicle 2, a bottom wall surface 9041 a of the base wall portion9041 spreads in a trapezoidal substantially planar shape facing theinner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3 across an imaging space 410.According to the first embodiment, the base wall portion 9041 isprovided with multiple restriction ribs 411 protruding from the bottomwall surface 9041 a into the imaging space 410 as shown in FIGS. 21 and22. One or more of the restriction ribs 411 are adjusted to be specificribs 411 a each having a higher protrusion height around the lens unit33. In FIGS. 23 and 24, partial components such as the multiplerestriction ribs 411 including the specific ribs 411 a are omitted fromillustration. In addition, in the ninth embodiment and the subsequentembodiments, figures, in drawings corresponding to FIGS. 23 and 24, thepartial components are omitted in the same way.

As shown in FIGS. 21 to 24, the side wall portions 9043 are raisedsubstantially perpendicularly from the entire side edge of the base wallportion 9041 on both sides of the imaging space 410, so that each of theside wall portions 9043 has a bent plate-like shape. Each of the sidewall portions 9043 has an inclined portion 9043 b and a straight portion9043 c.

The inclined portions 9043 b of the respective side wall portions 9043are provided on the left and right sides symmetrically with the opticalaxes Aw and Al of the lens unit 33. The inclined portions 9043 b of therespective side wall portions 9043 are inclined and spread from a sideperiphery of the lens barrel 35 of the lens unit 33, which is exposedthrough the lens window 420, to an oblique front side (that is,diagonally external environment 5 side) with respect to the optical axesAw and Al. In this way, in the inclined portions 9043 b of therespective side wall portions 9043, a mutual space is defined betweenrespective inner wall surfaces 9430 b each having a trapezoidal planarshape. The mutual space gradually spreads toward the front side (thatis, the external environment 5 side). In the inclined portions 9043 b ofthe respective side wall portions 9043, a height from the base wallportion 9041 gradually decreases toward the front side. In this way, theinclined portions 9043 b of the respective side wall portions 9043 arelocated in a posture in which the inclined portions 9043 b are spacedfrom the inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3 with a clearance9430.

The straight portions 9043 c of the respective side wall portions 9043are provided on the left and right sides symmetrically with the opticalaxes Aw and Al of the lens unit 33. The straight portion 9043 c of eachside wall portion 9043 spreads from a front end portion (that is, an endportion on the external environment 5 side) of the inclined portion 9043b of the same side wall portion 9043. The straight portion 9043 cspreads substantially in parallel with the optical axes Aw and Al. Inthis way, in the straight portions 9043 c of the respective side wallportions 9043, inner wall surfaces 9430 c each having a trapezoidalplanar shape are spaced apart from each other at a substantiallyconstant mutual distance over the entire longitudinal region. A heightof the straight portion 9043 c from the base wall portion 9041 is equalto a height of the inclined portion 9043 b at the front end portion ofthe inclined portion 9043 b in the same side wall portion 9043. Theheight of the straight portion 9043 c gradually decreases toward thefront side. In this way, the straight portion 9043 c of each side wallportion 9043 is also located in a posture in which the straight portion9043 c is spaced from the inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3with the clearance 9430.

In the ninth embodiment, control functions of the vehicle 2 according toa situation of the external environment 5 shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 areinstalled in the control circuit 55 or an external circuit such as anECU connected to the external connector 544. In this example, one of thecontrol functions is a collision avoidance control of the vehicle 2against the front obstacle 5 c (for example, a pedestrian, a bicycle,another vehicle, or the like) as a specific control Cs of the vehicle 2.A specific example of the specific control Cs is an autonomous emergencybraking (AEB) that automatically controls a vehicle speed of the vehicle2 when an emergency control condition, in which a time to collision(TTC) is several seconds or less, arises, thereby to forcibly deceleratethe vehicle 2, or the like. In addition, one of the control functions isa driving control of the vehicle 2 in a traveling lane as anothercontrol Ca of the vehicle 2 different from the specific control Cs. Aspecific example of the other control Ca is a lane keeping assist (LKA)that automatically controls a position of the vehicle 2 in a widthdirection of the traveling lane to restrict a deviation of the vehicle 2from a lane marking 5 d such as a lane line or a yellow lane line on aroad surface, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 24 to 27, a horizontal angle of view range, which isnecessary for the specific control Cs of the vehicle 2, falls within theimaging target range of the external environment 5 for the camera module1 mounted on the front windshield 3. The horizontal angle of view rangeis defined by a first taper angle θ1 with the optical axes Aw and Al asa bisector when viewed in the vertical direction (that is, in ahorizontal plane view) of the vehicle 2, which is on the horizontalplane. In this example, the first taper angle θ1 is smaller than ahorizontal angle of view range of the lens angle of view θw definedaround the optical axes Aw and Al of the lens unit 33. For example, thefirst taper angle θ1 is set to an angle of 100° or more to enableimaging of the front obstacle 5 c, which precedes the vehicle 2 by 13meter or more, on condition that the TTC is equal to or more than 2.4seconds. In the ninth embodiment, the lens angle of view θw is set to alarge wide angle such as 120° or more through the wide angle lens 36.

As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, a vertical angle of view range necessaryfor the specific control Cs of the vehicle 2 falls within the imagingtarget range of the external environment 5 for the camera module 1mounted on the front windshield 3. The vertical angle of view range isdefined by a sum of a first depression angle ψd1 and a first elevationangle ψe1 in a horizontal-direction view (that is, side view) of thevehicle 2, which is on the horizontal plane. In this example, the sum ofthe first depression angle ψd1 and the first elevation angle ψe1 issmaller than a vertical angle of view range of the lens angle of viewθw. For example, the first depression angle ψd1 is set to such as anangle of 6° or less to enable imaging of the front obstacle 5 c, whichprecedes the vehicle 2 by 13 meter or more, on condition that the TTC isequal to or more than 2.4 seconds.

As shown in FIG. 25, an individual imaging range Us used to bespecialized for the specific control Cs is determined according to thehorizontal angle of view range and the vertical angle of view range ofthe external environment 5 necessary for the specific control Cs.Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 24, 25, 27, and 29, a light ray enteringthe wide angle lens 36 of the lens unit 33 at the first taper angle θ1and the first depression angle ψd1 from both of right and left ends Useof a lowermost portion of the individual imaging range Us is assumed asa first lower light ray L1. Under the above assumption, a point, atwhich each first lower light ray L1 associated with the specific controlCs imaginarily intersects with the inner surface 3 a of the frontwindshield 3 in the vehicle 2, is defined as first imaginaryintersections I1 as shown in FIGS. 24, 27, and 29. As shown in FIG. 24,each of the first imaginary intersections I1 is associated with an upperpart of the front end portion of the inclined portion 9043 b of eachside wall portion 9043, thereby to realize the following configurationof each side wall portion 9043.

On the lens unit 33 side (that is, on the rear side) of the firstimaginary intersections I1 in the vehicle 2, each of the side wallportions 9043 forms an inner wall surface 9430 b of the inclined portion9043 b on the outside of both the right and left taper lines of thefirst taper angle θ1 across a slight clearance when viewed in thevertical direction. The right and left taper lines of the first taperangle θ1 substantially overlap with the respective first lower lightrays L1. In this way, in the inclined portion 9043 b of each side wallportion 9043 directed from the periphery of the lens unit 33 to eachfirst imaginary intersection I1 in the vehicle 2, the inner wall surface9430 b spreads along the taper line at the angle θ1 on the outside ofthe first taper angle θ1 when viewed in the vertical direction. On theother hand, on the external environment 5 side (that is, front side) ofthe first imaginary intersections I1 in the vehicle 2, each of the sidewall portions 9043 forms the inner wall surface 9430 c of the straightportion 9043 c so as to spread substantially in parallel with theoptical axes Aw and A1 inside both the right and left taper lines at thefirst taper angle θ1 when viewed in the vertical direction. With theconfiguration described above, when viewed in the vertical direction ofeach side wall portion 9043, the inclined portion 9043 b and thestraight portion 9043 c enter the inside of the lens angle of view θw.

To the contrary, as shown in FIGS. 24 to 27, the horizontal angle ofview range required for the other control Ca of the vehicle 2 fallswithin the imaging range of the external environment 5. The horizontalangle of view range is defined by a second taper angle θ2 with theoptical axes Aw and Al as a bisector when viewed in the verticaldirection of the vehicle 2, which is on the horizontal plane. In thisexample, the second taper angle θ2 is further smaller than the firsttaper angle θ1 which is smaller than the horizontal angle of view rangeof the lens angle of view θw. For example, the second taper angle θ2 isset to an angle of 50° or more and less than 100° to enable imaging ofthe lane marking 5 d on a road surface, which precedes the vehicle 2 by8.5 meter or more.

As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the vertical angle of view range requiredfor the other control Ca of the vehicle 2 falls within the imagingtarget range of the external environment 5. The vertical angle of viewrange is defined by a sum of a second depression angle ψd2 and a secondelevation angle ψe2 in the horizontal-direction view of the vehicle 2,which is on the horizontal plane. In this example, the sum of the seconddepression angle ψd2 and the second elevation angle ψe2 is smaller thanthe vertical angle of view range of the lens angle of view θw. Forexample, the second depression angle ψd2 is set to an angle of 6° ormore and 12° or less to enable imaging of the lane marking 5 d on theroad surface, which precedes the vehicle 2 by 8.5 meter or more. Thesecond depression angle ψd2 is larger than the first depression angleψd1.

As shown in FIG. 25, an individual imaging range Ua used to bespecialized for the other control Ca is determined according to thehorizontal angle of view range and the vertical angle of view range ofthe external environment 5 necessary for the other control Ca.Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 24, 25, 27, and 29, a light ray enteringthe wide angle lens 36 of the lens unit 33 at the second taper angle θ2and the second depression angle ψd2 from both of right and left ends Uaeof a lowermost portion of the individual imaging range Ua is assumed asa second lower light ray L2. Under the above assumption, a point, atwhich each second lower light ray L2 associated with the other controlCa imaginarily intersects with the inner surface 3 a of the frontwindshield 3 in the vehicle 2, is defined as second imaginaryintersections I2 as shown in FIGS. 24, 27, and 29. As shown in FIG. 24,each of the second imaginary intersections I2 is associated with anupper portion of the front end portion of the base wall portion 9041,thereby to realize the following configuration of the base wall portion9041 and each side wall portion 9043.

On the lens unit 33 side (that is, on the rear side) of the secondimaginary intersections I2 in the vehicle 2, the base wall portion 9041forms the bottom wall surface 9041 a in an entire inside area and apredetermined outside area that sandwich both the right and left taperlines of the second taper angle θ2, which substantially overlap with therespective second lower light rays L2, when viewed in the verticaldirection. In this way, in the vehicle 2, the base wall portion 9041extends from the periphery of the lens unit 33 to the second imaginaryintersections I2 and to both the inside and the outside of the secondimaginary intersections I2. In the base wall portion 9041, the bottomwall surface 9041 a spreads to an inside portion of the taper lines ofthe first taper angle θ1 outside the second imaginary intersections I2when viewed in the vertical direction. In addition, in the straightportion 9043 c of each side wall portion 9043, the inner wall surface9430 c spreads to the inside portion of the taper lines of the firsttaper angle θ1 outside the second imaginary intersections I2 when viewedin the vertical direction. With the configuration described above, thebase wall portion 9041 and the straight portion 9043 c of each side wallportion 9043 are formed so as to spread laterally outward the secondimaginary intersections I2 when viewed in the vertical direction.

In the ninth embodiment described above, as shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, thebracket assembly 10 is configured with the bracket main body 11integrally formed with the hood 9040. The bracket assembly 10 isdetachably attached to the front windshield 3 by fitting and detachmentof the mounting pad 12 into and from the mounting slots 110 as shown inFIG. 21. Further, as in the first embodiment, the camera casing 20 thataccommodates the lens unit 33 and the imager 34 is hung from the bracketassembly 10 mounted to the front windshield 3 together with the hood9040 in the vehicle 2 as shown in FIG. 21.

(Operational Effects)

Subsequently, the operational effects of the ninth embodiment describedabove will be described.

Further, according to the hood 9040 of the ninth embodiment as in thefirst embodiment, excess light incidence from the external environment 5outside the imaging target range of the imager 34 to the lens unit 33 isrestricted. The configuration enables to restrict excess light frombeing superimposed on the normal optical image within the imaging targetrange and from interfering with the imaging.

In particular, according to the hood 9040 of the ninth embodiment, thebase wall portion 9041 is located to face the front windshield 3 acrossthe imaging space 410, and each side wall portion 9043 raised from thebase wall portion 9041 on the lateral side of the imaging space 410spreads from the periphery of the lens unit 33 toward the imaginaryintersections I1 in the vehicle 2. According to the configuration, eventhough the hood 9040 is formed small, incidence of the lower light rayL1 is unlikely blocked with the side wall portion 9043. The lower lightray L1 intersects with the front windshield 3 at the imaginaryintersections I1 at the taper angle θ1 and defines the horizontal angleof view range, which is smaller than that of the lens unit 33, in theimaging target range. Therefore, the configuration enables to reduce insize the camera module 1, which includes the hood 9040 that secures thetaper angle θ1 to enable to capture the normal optical image.

Further, in the first embodiment, the lens unit 33 according to theninth embodiment includes the wide angle lens 36 to ensure the wide lensangle of view θw. Therefore, a concern arises that incident of excesslight increases and that the hood 9040 becomes larger in size. However,as described above, in the ninth embodiment, the excess light incidenton the lens unit 33 is restricted. Therefore, even though the hood 9040is formed small, the light incidence at the taper angle θ1 is unlikelyto be blocked. Moreover, in the ninth embodiment employing the specificwide angle lens 36 as in the first embodiment, even though the size ofthe wide angle optical surface 360 is reduced, imaging of the normaloptical image can be secured. From the above viewpoints, theconfiguration enables to reduce in size the camera module 1 thatincludes the hood 9040, which secures the taper angle θ1 enabling toimage the normal optical image, and the wide angle lens 36.

As in the first embodiment, according to the hood 9040 of the ninthembodiment, the base wall portion 9041 is located to face the frontwindshield 3 across the imaging space 410, and in the base wall portion9041, the multiple restriction ribs 411 protrude into the imaging space410 to restrict the light reflection on the lens unit 33. Theconfiguration enables to restrict the reflected light on the base wallportion 9041, which is likely to increase light incidence, from beingsuperimposed on the normal optical image within the taper angle θ1 andfrom interfering with the imaging, in the placement of the base wallportion 9041 to face the front windshield 3.

In addition, as in the first embodiment, according to the hood 9040 ofthe ninth embodiment, the specific ribs 411 a having the higherprotrusion height around the lens unit 33 among the multiple restrictionribs 411 are likely to block the optical path in which reflected lighton the base wall portion 9041 travels toward the lens unit 33. Theconfiguration enables to enhance the effect of restricting the reflectedlight on the base wall portion 9041 from being superimposed on thenormal optical image within the taper angle θ1 and from interfering withthe imaging.

According to the hood 9040 of the ninth embodiment, the side wallportions 9043 of the vehicle 2 are spread along the taper angle θ1 onthe outside of the taper angle θ1 on the lens unit 33 side of theimaginary intersections I1. According to the configuration, the hood9040 can be formed in a limited size for securing the taper angle θ1.The configuration enables to promote reduction in size of the cameramodule 1 including the hood 9040 which secures the taper angle θ1 toenable to image the normal optical image.

Further, according to the hood 9040 of the ninth embodiment, in thevehicle 2, each of the side wall portions 9043 spreads to the inside ofthe taper angle θ1 on the side where the side wall portions 9043 areunlikely to affect the taper angle θ1, that is, on the externalenvironment 5 side beyond the imaginary intersections I1. The taperangle θ1 is secured by spreading the side wall portions 9043 from thelens unit 33 to the imaginary intersections I1. In this case, the hood9040 can be formed small because of the spreading of the side wallportions 9043 inside the taper angle θ1. In addition, light, which wouldenter the inside of the taper angle θ1 after being reflected on thefront windshield 3, can be blocked before being reflected. Therefore,the configuration enables to restrict the reflected light on the frontwindshield 3 from being superimposed on the normal optical image andfrom interfering with the imaging, while promoting reduction in size ofthe camera module 1 including the hood 9040 which secures the taperangle θ1 and enables to image the normal optical image.

In this example, the side wall portions 9043 of the vehicle 2 may bebrought into a state in which the inner side of the taper angle θ1spreads along the optical axes Aw and Al of the lens unit 33 on theexternal environment 5 side beyond the imaginary intersections I1 as inthe hood 9040 of the ninth embodiment. The configuration enables to formthe small hood 9040 with a relatively simple structure because of thespreading of the side wall portions 9043 inside the taper angle θ1 alongthe optical axes Aw and Al. In addition, light, which would enter theinside of the taper angle θ1 if reflected on the front windshield 3, canbe blocked before being reflected. Therefore, the reflected light on thefront windshield 3 can be restricted from being superimposed on thenormal optical image and from interfering with the imaging while theconfiguration promotes reduction in size and simplification of thecamera module 1 including the hood 9040 which secures the taper angle θ1enabling to image the normal optical image.

According to the hood 9040 of the ninth embodiment, as described above,in the lower light rays L1 that intersect with the front windshield 3 atthe imaginary intersections I1, the side wall portions 9043 unlikelyblocks the incidence at the taper angle θ1, which is necessary for thespecific control Cs of the vehicle 2 within the imaging target range.Therefore, the configuration enables to reduce in size the camera module1 including the hood 9040, which enables to image the normal opticalimage within the taper angle θ1 necessary for the specific control Cs.

According to the hood 9040 of the ninth embodiment, in the vehicle 2,the side wall portions 9043 spread from the periphery of the lens unit33 toward the first imaginary intersection I1 as the imaginaryintersection I1. According to the configuration, even though the hood9040 is formed small, the side wall portions 9043 unlikely block theincidence of the first lower light rays L1, which are at the firstdepression angle ψd1 and at the taper angle θ1 and intersect with thefront windshield 3 at the first imaginary intersections I1. Moreover, inthe vehicle 2, the base wall portion 9041 spreads from the periphery ofthe lens unit 33 toward the second imaginary intersections I2. Accordingto the configuration, the base wall portion 9041 and the side wallportions 9043 unlikely block the incidence of the second lower lightrays L2, which are at the second taper angle θ2 and at the seconddepression angle ψd2 and intersect the front windshield 3 at the secondimaginary intersections I2. The second taper angle θ2 is smaller thanthe first taper angle θ1, and the second depression angle ψd2 is largerthan the first depression angle ψd1. From the above viewpoints, it ispossible to reduce the size of the camera module 1 including the hood9040, which is capable of not only capturing the normal optical imagewithin the first taper angle θ1 necessary for the specific control Cs ofthe vehicle 2 but also capturing the normal optical image within thesecond taper angle θ2 necessary for the other control Ca of the vehicle2.

Further, according to the hood 9040 of the ninth embodiment, in thevehicle 2, each of the side wall portions 9043 and the base wall portion9041 spreads toward the lateral sides of the second imaginaryintersections I2 on the side where each of the side wall portions 9043and the base wall portion 9041 is unlikely to affect the first taperangle θ1, which is secured by spreading from the lens unit 33 toward thefirst imaginary intersection I1. That is, each of the side wall portions9043 and the base wall portion 9041 spreads toward the lateral sides ofthe second imaginary intersections I2 on the external environment 5 sidebeyond the first imaginary intersection I1. In this case, the side wallportions 9043 and the base wall portion 9041 cooperate to enable toblock light, which would enter the inside of the first taper angle θ1 orto the inside of the second taper angle θ2 if reflected on the frontwindshield 3, before being reflected. Therefore, both of capturing thenormal optical image within the first taper angle θ1 necessary for thespecific control Cs and capturing the normal optical image within thesecond taper angle θ2 necessary for the other control Ca can be enabled.

According to the ninth embodiment, in the collision avoidance control ofthe vehicle 2 against the front obstacle 5 c, as the specific controlCs, the relatively large first taper angle θ1 can be ensured and thedesired collision restriction function can be exhibited. On the otherhand, in the driving control of the vehicle 2 within the traveling lane,as the other control Ca, different from the specific control Cs, therelatively large second depression angle ψd2 of the second lower lightray L2 incident at the second taper angle θ2, which may be relativelysmall, can be ensured, and the desired driving control function can beproduced.

Further, according to the ninth embodiment, in the vehicle 2, the cameracasing 20 that accommodates the lens unit 33 and the imager 34 is hungfrom the bracket assembly 10 detachably attached to the front windshield3. In this example, the hood 9040 is formed integrally with the bracketassembly 10 of the ninth embodiment. The configuration enables thecamera casing 20 to be detached from the front windshield 3 togetherwith the bracket assembly 10 and the hood 9040 and enables to performmaintenance work of the lens unit 33 and the imager 34. At that time,more particularly, the fitting protrusion portions 213 of the cameracasing 20 are detached from the respective fitting protrusion portions111 of the bracket assembly 10, and the casing members 21 and 22 areseparated from each other as required to expose the inside of the cameracasing 20, thereby facilitating the maintenance work.

After the work described above, in the ninth embodiment, the bracketassembly 10, from which the camera casing 20 is hung, is mounted to thefront windshield 3 together with the hood 9040. With such operation, thenormal optical image can be again captured with the lens unit 33 and theimager 34 which have been maintained. In addition to the above effects,in the ninth embodiment, the same operational effect as those in thefirst embodiment can be produced.

(Tenth Embodiment)

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, a tenth embodiment is a modification of theninth embodiment.

A light shielding hood 10040 according to the tenth embodiment includesside wall portions 10043 substituted for the side wall portions 9043 inthe ninth embodiment, together with the base wall portion 41 of thefirst embodiment substituted for the base wall portion 9041 in the ninthembodiment, and the rear end wall portion 42. The side wall portions10043 are raised substantially vertically on both sides of the imagingspace 410 from the entire side edge area of the base wall portion 41. Inthe base wall portion 41, the bottom wall surface 41 a spreads in atrapezoidal substantially planar shape, and the restriction ribs 411 areprovided. Each of the side wall portions 10043 has a straight plate-likeshape. Each of the side wall portions 10043 includes the inclinedportion 9043 b described in the ninth embodiment as a first inclinedportion 9043 b and further includes another inclined portion substitutedfor the straight portion 9043 c of the ninth embodiment as a secondinclined portion 10043 c. In FIG. 30, a boundary between the firstinclined portion 9043 b and the second inclined portion 10043 c isimaginarily indicated by a two-dot chain line.

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the second inclined portions 10043 c of therespective side wall portions 10043 are provided on the left and rightsides symmetrically with the optical axes Aw and Al of the lens unit 33.The second inclined portion 10043 c of each side wall portion 10043spreads forward to be inclined obliquely to the optical axes Aw and Alfrom the front end portion of the first inclined portion 9043 b of thesame side wall portion 10043. In this example, in each of the side wallportions 10043, inclination angles of the inclined portions 9043 b and10043 c to the optical axes Aw and Al are set to be substantially equalto each other, so that the inner wall surfaces 9430 b and 10430 c of theinclined portions 9043 b and 10043 c are continuous to and substantiallyflush with each other. In this way, in the second inclined portions10043 c of the respective side wall portions 10043, inner wall surfaces10430 c each having a trapezoidal planar shape define a mutual spacetherebetween to gradually spread toward the front side. In the secondinclined portion 10043 c of each side wall portion 10043, the heightfrom the base wall portion 41 is equal to the height of the front endportion of the first inclined portion 9043 b in the same side wallportion 10043, and the height gradually decreases toward the front side.In this way, the second inclined portion 10043 c of each side wallportion 10043 is located in a posture in which the second inclinedportion 10043 c is spaced from the inner surface 3 a of the frontwindshield 3 with the clearance 9430 (not shown in the presentembodiment).

As shown in FIG. 31, similarly to the lens unit 33 side of theintersections I1, in each side wall portion 10043, on the externalenvironment 5 side beyond first imaginary intersections I1 in thevehicle 2, an inner wall surface 10430 c of the second inclined portion10043 c is formed with a slight clearance, which is on the outside ofboth the right and left taper lines of the first taper angle θ1 whenviewed in the vertical direction. In this way, in the second inclinedportion 10043 c of each side wall portion 9043, the inner wall surface10430 c spreads along the taper line of the angle θ1 on the outside ofthe first taper angle θ1 when viewed in the vertical direction of thevehicle 2. With the configuration described above, when viewed in thevertical direction of each side wall portion 10043, the first inclinedportion 9043 b and the second inclined portion 10043 c enter the insideof the lens angle of view θw.

On the lens unit 33 side of the second imaginary intersections I2 in thevehicle 2, the base wall portion 41 forms the bottom wall surface 41 aacross an entire area, which is inside the first taper angle θ1, and apredetermined area outside the angle θ1 when viewed in the verticaldirection. The entire area inside the first taper angle θ1 includes anentire area inside the second taper angle θ2. In this way, the base wallportion 41 extends from the periphery of the lens unit 33 toward thesecond imaginary intersection I2 and toward both the inside and outsideof the second imaginary intersection I2 in the vehicle 2. In the basewall portion 41, the bottom wall surface 41 a extends to portionsoutside the second imaginary intersection I2 when viewed in the verticaldirection. In the portions, the bottom wall surface 41 a extends to theslightly outside portions beyond the taper lines of the first taperangle θ1. In addition, in the second inclined portion 10043 c of eachside wall portion 10043, the inner wall surface 10430 c extends to theslightly outside portion beyond the taper line of the first taper angleθ1 in the portion outside the second imaginary intersections I2 whenviewed in the vertical direction. With the configuration describedabove, the base wall portion 41 and the second inclined portion 10043 cof each side wall portion 10043 are formed to extend toward thelaterally outside of the second imaginary intersections I2 when viewedin the vertical direction.

According to the hood 10040 of the tenth embodiment described above, inthe vehicle 2, each of the side wall portions 10043 spreads on theoutside of the taper angle θ1 along the angle θ1, on the side where theside wall portion 10043 is unlikely to affect the taper angle θ1 securedby spreading from the lens unit 33 to the imaginary intersections I1,that is, on the external environment 5 side beyond the imaginaryintersections I1. In this case, the side wall portions 10043 are raisedfrom the base wall portion 41 in a wide region on the externalenvironment 5 side beyond the imaginary intersections I1, and the sidewall portions 10043 and the base wall portion 41 cooperate to blocklight, which would enter the inside of the taper angle θ1 if beingreflected on the front windshield 3, before being reflected. Therefore,the configuration enables to increase the effect of restricting thereflected light, which is reflected on the front windshield 3, frombeing superimposed on the normal optical image and from interfering withthe imaging, without significantly impairing reduction in size of thecamera module 1 including the hood 10040 which secures the taper angleθ1 enabling to image the normal optical image.

The hood 10040 of the tenth embodiment attains the side wall portions10043 which spread along the taper angle θ1 on both the lens unit 33side of the imaginary intersections I1 and on the external environment 5side beyond the imaginary intersections I1. According to theconfiguration, the productivity of the hood 10040 can be enhanced withthe formation of the side wall portions 10043 in a simple shape. Inaddition to the above effects, according to the tenth embodiment, thesame operational effects as those in the ninth embodiment can beproduced.

(Eleventh Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 32, an eleventh embodiment is a modification of theninth embodiment.

A hood 11040 having a partially light shielding property according tothe eleventh embodiment includes side wall portions 11043 substitutedfor the side wall portions 9043 in the ninth embodiment together withthe base wall portion 9041 and the rear end wall portion 42. The sidewall portions 11043 are raised substantially vertically on both sides ofthe imaging space 410 from an entire side edge area of the base wallportion 9041, in which the bottom wall surface 9041 a spreads in ahexagonal substantially planar shape and restriction ribs 411 areprovided. Each of the side wall portions 11043 is in a bent plate-likeshape. Each of the side wall portions 11043 includes a straight portion11043 c, which is substituted for the straight portion 9043 c of theninth embodiment, together with the inclined portion 9043 b.

The straight portions 11043 c of the respective side wall portions 11043are provided on the right side and the left side symmetrically with theoptical axes Aw and Al of the lens unit 33 on the external environment 5side beyond the first imaginary intersections I1 in the vehicle 2 whenviewed in the vertical direction. The straight portions 11043 c areprovided as portions extending laterally outside of the second imaginaryintersections I2. The straight portion 11043 c of each side wall portion11043 has substantially the same configuration as that of the straightportion 9043 c of the ninth embodiment except that the entire inner wallsurface 11430 c having the trapezoidal planar shape is formed of a lighttransmissive polarizing filter. In this example, the polarizing filtermade of, for example, resin or the like has a polarizing function to cutS polarized light and to transmit P polarized light. Therefore, thestraight portion 11043 c of each side wall portion 11043 is formed ofthe polarizing filter so that the polarizing filter cuts the S-polarizedlight which has a reflectance in the front windshield 3 particularlyhigh in the horizontal direction.

According to the hood 11040 of the eleventh embodiment described above,in the side wall portions 11043 on the external environment 5 sidebeyond the imaginary intersections I1 in the vehicle 2, the portionformed of the polarizing filter spreads. In this case, according to thepolarizing filters on the external environment 5 side beyond theimaginary intersections I1, the polarizing filters of the side wallportions 11043 are enables to cut the S-polarized light, which wouldstrongly enter the inside of the taper angle θ1 if reflected on thefront windshield 3, before reflection. Therefore, the configurationenables to enhance the effect of restricting the reflected light on thefront windshield 3 from being superimposed on the normal optical imageand from interfering with the imaging while reducing the size of thecamera module 1 including the hood 11040 that secures the taper angle θ1enabling to image the normal optical image. In addition to the aboveeffects, in the eleventh embodiment, the same operational effects asthose of the ninth embodiment can be produced.

(Twelfth Embodiment)

As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, a twelfth embodiment is a modification ofthe ninth embodiment.

A hood 12040 having a light shielding property according to the twelfthembodiment includes side wall portions 12043 substituted for the sidewall portions 9043 in the ninth embodiment together with the base wallportion 9041 and the rear end wall portion 42. The side wall portions12043 are raised substantially vertically on both sides of the imagingspace 410 from a partial side edge of the base wall portion 9041 inwhich the bottom wall surface 9041 a spreads in a hexagonalsubstantially planar shape, and in which restriction ribs 411 areprovided. Each of the side wall portions 12043 is in a straightplate-like shape. Each of the side wall portions 12043 has the inclinedportion 9043 b but has no straight portion 9043 c. In this way, therespective side wall portions 12043 are formed in a cut form on theexternal environment 5 side beyond the first imaginary intersections I1in the vehicle 2, thereby defining a window 12043 d communicated withthe imaging space 410. Incidentally, the cut form is not limited to theshape, which is actually cut by cutting or the like, and includes ashape previously given by molding or the like.

According to the hood 12040 of the twelfth embodiment described above,in the vehicle 2, each of the side wall portions 12043 is in thecut-shaped portion on a side that is unlikely to affect the taper angleθ1 secured by spreading from the lens unit 33 to the imaginaryintersections I1, that is, on the external environment 5 side beyond theimaginary intersections I1. In this case, even in a case where arelative position of the side wall portions 12043 to the frontwindshield 3 fluctuates due to, for example, vibration of the vehicle 2or the like, the side wall portions 12043 unlikely obstruct the taperangle θ1 on the external environment 5 side beyond the imaginaryintersections I1 by the provision of the cut-shaped portions. Theconfiguration enables to eliminate a risk that an unnecessary portion ofthe hood 12040 would obstruct imaging of the normal optical image insecuring the taper angle θ1. In addition to the above effects, accordingto the twelfth embodiment, the same operational effects as those in theninth embodiment can be produced.

(Thirteenth Embodiment)

As illustrated in FIGS. 35 to 37, a thirteenth embodiment is amodification of the twelfth embodiment.

A camera module 1 according to the thirteenth embodiment furtherincludes a camera cover 13060. The camera cover 13060 is made of arelatively easily moldable rigid material such as resin and formed in adeep pot shape as a whole. The camera cover 13060 is fixed to thebracket assembly 10. In this way, the camera cover 13060 hangs from thebracket assembly 10, which is detachably attached to the frontwindshield 3, and is located to cover the other components 10, 20, 30,12040, and 50 of the camera module 1 from the lower side and the lateralside.

The camera cover 13060 has a pair of cover side portions 13061 to coverthe lens unit 33 and the hood 12040 from both lateral sides. Each of thecover side portions 13061 is in a cut form at a position inside thefirst taper angle θ1 when viewed in the vertical direction of thevehicle 2, thereby to define other windows 13061 a. The other windows13061 a are communicated to the imaging space 410 through the window12043 d. Incidentally, the cut form is not limited to the shape, whichis actually cut by cutting or the like, and includes a shape previouslygiven by molding or the like.

According to the thirteenth embodiment described above, the camera cover13060 that covers the lens unit 33 and the hood 12040 from the lowerside and the lateral sides has a cut-shaped portion inside the taperangle θ1. In this case, even in a case where a relative position of theside wall portions 12043 and the camera cover 13060 to the frontwindshield 3 fluctuates due to, for example, vibration of the vehicle 2or the like, those elements 12043 and 13060 unlikely obstruct the taperangle θ1 on the external environment 5 side beyond the imaginaryintersections I1 by the presence of the cut-shaped portions. Inaddition, the camera cover 13060 enables to block light, which wouldenter the inside of the taper angle θ1 if being reflected on the frontwindshield 3, before the reflection. From the above viewpoint, theconfiguration enables to enhance the effect of restricting the reflectedlight on the front windshield 3 from being superimposed on the normaloptical image and from interfering with the imaging withoutsignificantly impairing reduction in size of the camera module 1including the hood 12040 and the camera cover 13060 which enable toimage the normal optical image within the taper angle θ1. In addition tothe above effects, according to the thirteenth embodiment, the sameoperational effects as those in the twelfth embodiment can be produced.

(Fourteenth Embodiment)

As shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, a fourteenth embodiment is a modificationof the ninth embodiment.

In a bracket assembly 14010 according to the fourteenth embodiment, thecushion 13 and the mounting pad 12 are not provided, and a bracket mainbody 14011 substituted for the bracket main body 11 of the ninthembodiment described in detail in the first embodiment is provided. Inthe bracket main body 14011, a flat upper surface 14011 a is adhesivelyfixed to the inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3. In this way,in the vehicle 2, the bracket assembly 14010 is detachably attached tothe front windshield 3.

As shown in FIG. 39, the bracket main body 14011 is provided withmultiple fitting groove portions 14112 having a substantially L shape incorrespondence with respective fitting protrusion portions 213 of anupper casing member 21 of the camera casing 20, respectively. Each ofthe fitting protrusion portions 213 is fixedly engaged with asubstantially L-shaped terminal end portion of the corresponding fittinggroove portion 14112 by slide fitting. In this way, in the vehicle 2,the camera casing 20 is hung from the bracket assembly 14010 in adetachable and attachable manner as shown in FIG. 38.

The configuration of the bracket main body 14011 other than theconfiguration described above is substantially the same as that of thebracket main body 11 of the ninth embodiment. In other words, thebracket assembly 14010 is formed of the bracket main body 14011integrally formed with the hood 9040.

According to the fourteenth embodiment described above, in the vehicle2, the camera casing 20 that accommodates the lens unit 33 and theimager 34 is hung from the bracket assembly 14010 mounted to the frontwindshield 3 in the detachable and attachable manner. In this example,the hood 9040 is formed integrally with the bracket assembly 14010 ofthe fourteenth embodiment. According to the configuration, the cameracasing 20 can be detached from the bracket assembly 14010 that is keptto be mounted to the front windshield 3 together with the hood 9040, andmaintenance work of the lens unit 33 and the imager 34 can be performed.At that time, more particularly, the fitting protrusion portions 213 ofthe camera casing 20 are detached from the respective fitting grooveportions 14112 of the bracket assembly 14010, and the casing members 21and 22 are separated from each other as required, to expose the insideof the camera casing 20, thereby facilitating the maintenance work.

After the work described above, in the fourteenth embodiment, the cameracasing 20 is mounted to and hung from the bracket assembly 14010 that iskept to be mounted to the front windshield 3 together with the hood9040. With such operation, the normal optical image can be againcaptured with the lens unit 33 and the imager 34 which have beenmaintained. In addition to the above effects, according to thefourteenth embodiment, the same operational effects as those in theninth embodiment can be produced.

(Fifteenth Embodiment)

As illustrated in FIGS. 40 and 41, a fifteenth embodiment is amodification of the fourteenth embodiment.

In a bracket assembly 15010 according to the fifteenth embodiment, abracket main body 15011 substituted for the bracket main body 14011 ofthe fourteenth embodiment is provided. The hood 9040 is not integrallyformed with the bracket main body 15011. In other words, the hood 9040is separated from the bracket main body 15011 into a separate component.The separate hood 9040 has a fixing portion 15044 that is fixed to thebracket main body 15011 by, for example, snap fit. In this way, the hood9040 is detachably attached to the bracket assembly 15010.

The configuration of the bracket main body 15011 other than theconfiguration described above is substantially the same as that of thebracket main body 14011 of the fourteenth embodiment. In other words, asthe bracket main body 15011 formed separately from the hood 9040 anddetachably attached to the front windshield 3 in the vehicle 2, thebracket assembly 15010 is formed of the bracket main body 15011 fromwhich the camera casing 20 is detachably hung.

According to the fifteenth embodiment described above, in the vehicle 2,the camera casing 20 is hung from the bracket assembly 15010 mounted tothe front windshield 3 in the detachable and attachable manner. The hood9040 is formed detachably from the bracket assembly 15010 of thefifteenth embodiment. The configuration enables the camera casing 20 andthe hood 9040 to be detached from the bracket assembly 15010 that iskept to be mounted to the front windshield 3 and enables maintenancework of the lens unit 33 and the imager 34. Similarly, at that time,more particularly, the fitting protrusion portions 213 of the cameracasing 20 are detached from the respective fitting groove portions 14112of the bracket assembly 14010, and the casing members 21 and 22 areseparated from each other as required, to expose the inside of thecamera casing 20, thereby facilitating the maintenance work.

After the work described above, in the fifteenth embodiment, the cameracasing 20 is mounted to and hung from the bracket assembly 14010 kept tobe mounted to the front windshield 3 after the hood 9040 has beenmounted to the bracket assembly 14010. With such operation, the normaloptical image can be again captured by the lens unit 33 and the imager34 which have been maintained. In addition to the above effects,according to the fifteenth embodiment, the same operational effects asthose in the ninth embodiment can be produced.

(Sixteenth Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 42, a sixteenth embodiment is a modification of thefifteenth embodiment.

A camera module 1 according to the sixteenth embodiment further includesa camera cover 16060. The camera cover 16060 is made of a relativelyeasily moldable rigid material such as resin and formed in a deep potshape as a whole. The camera cover 16060 is fixed to the bracketassembly 15010. In this way, the camera cover 16060 hangs from thebracket assembly 15010 which is undetachably attached to the frontwindshield 3 and located to cover the other components 10, 20, 30, 9040,and 50 of the camera module 1 from the lower side and the upper side. Inthe camera cover 16060, a pair of cover side portions 16061 covers thelens unit 33 and the hood 9040 from both of the right side and the leftside, and the window 13061 a as in the thirteenth embodiment is notprovided in the pair of cover side portions 16061.

According to the camera cover 16060 of the sixteenth embodimentdescribed above, the lens unit 33 and the hood 9040 are covered from thelower side and the lateral sides, thereby being capable of blockinglight, which would enter the inside of the taper angle θ1 if beingreflected on the front windshield 3, before being reflected, incooperation with the hood 9040. Therefore, the configuration enables toenhance the effect of restricting the reflected light on the frontwindshield 3 from being superimposed on the normal optical image andfrom interfering with the imaging without significantly impairingreduction in size of the camera module 1 including the hood 9040 and thecamera cover 16060 which secure the taper angle θ1 to enable imaging ofthe normal optical image. In addition to the above effects, according tothe sixteenth embodiment, the same operational effects as those in thefifteenth embodiment can be produced.

(Seventeenth Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 43, a seventeenth embodiment is a modification of thesixteenth embodiment.

In the seventeenth embodiment, a hood 17040 is covered with the cameracover 16060 from the lower side and both of lateral sides, and the hood17040 is substantially the same configuration as that of the hood 9040except that the restriction ribs 411 are not provided.

As components of an image assembly 17030 in the seventeenth embodiment,an assembly holder 17031 substituted for the assembly holder 31 of thesixteenth embodiment described in detail in the first embodiment iscombined with the lens unit 33 and the imager 34. The assembly holder17031 has substantially the same configuration as that of the assemblyholder 31 except that most part of the lens barrel 35 is accommodatedinside the holder 17031.

As components of a circuit unit 17050 in the seventeenth embodiment, acontrol board 17054 is combined with the imaging board 51, the FPC 53,and the circuits 52, 55. The control board 17054 has substantially thesame configuration as that of the control board 54 except that theconnection hole 542 is not provided and the internal connector 543 ismounted on the upper mounting surface 540. In this way, the imagingboard 51 is connected to the internal connector 543 through the FPC 53that wraps around an outer peripheral side of the control board 17054 ina meandering curved state. Incidentally, the imaging board 51 may beconnected to the internal connector 543 mounted on the upper mountingsurface 540 of the control board 17054 not through the FPC 53. At leastlatter of the imaging board 51 and the assembly holder 17031 is locatedunevenly on the upper side of the control board 17054. Alternatively,both of the imaging board 51 and the assembly holder 17031 may belocated across the upper side and the lower side of the control board17054.

Similarly, according to the seventeenth embodiment described above, thesame operational effects as those of the sixteenth embodiment can beproduced.

(Eighteenth Embodiment)

As illustrated in FIGS. 44 to 47, an eighteenth embodiment is amodification of the ninth embodiment. In the following description, thehorizontal direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle 2 on thehorizontal plane are referred to simply as the horizontal direction andthe vertical direction, respectively.

A hood 18040 having a light shielding property according to theeighteenth embodiment includes side wall portions 18043 substituted forthe side wall portions 9043 in the ninth embodiment together with thebase wall portion 9041 and the rear end wall portion 42. The side wallportions 18043 are raised substantially vertically on both sides of theimaging space 410 from the entire side edge area of the base wallportion 9041 having the multiple restriction ribs 411 with the specificribs 411 a. Each of the side wall portions 18043 is in a bent plate-likeshape. Each of the side wall portions 18043 includes an inclined portion18043 b and a straight portion 18043 c which are substituted for theinclined portion 9043 b and the straight portion 9043 c of the ninthembodiment.

The inclined portion 18043 b and the straight portion 18043 c of eachside wall portion 18043 have substantially the same configurations asthose of the inclined portion 9043 b and the straight portion 9043 c inthe ninth embodiment except that, in particular, the lens angle of viewθw passing through the wide angle lens 36 of the lens unit 33 is setbased on a lens angle of view θw on the imaginary plane Si, as will bedescribed below in detail. In this example, the imaginary plane Si isimaginarily formed along at least the right and left direction (that is,the lateral direction) in the horizontal direction to include theoptical axes Aw and Al of the lens unit 33. Therefore, on condition thatthe optical axes Aw and Al are along the front and back direction in thehorizontal direction, the imaginary plane Si becomes a plane includingthe optical axes Aw and Al and extending along both the front and backdirection and the right and left direction, that is, becomes thehorizontal plane. On the other hand, in a case where the optical axes Awand Al are inclined downward or upward toward the front side in thefront and back direction, the imaginary plane Si becomes a plane, whichincludes the optical axes Aw and Al, spreads along an inclinationdirection relative to the front and back direction, and spreads alongthe right and left direction. In other words, the imaginary plane Sibecomes an inclined plane relative to the horizontal plane.

The inclined portions 18043 b of the respective side wall portions 18043are provided on the left and right sides symmetrically with the opticalaxes Aw and Al. The inclined portions 18043 b of the respective sidewall portions 18043 are located in a posture in which the inclinedportions 18043 b are spaced from the inner surface 3 a of the frontwindshield 3 with the clearance 18430. The inclined portion 18043 b ofeach side wall portion 18043 is formed outside the lens angle of view θwand on the imaginary plane Si when viewed in the vertical direction. Inparticular, the trapezoidal planar inner wall surface 18430 b of theinclined portion 18043 b of each side wall portion 18043 is formed so asto spread substantially in parallel with angle of view linesrepresenting both of the right and left side edges of the lens angle ofview θw on the imaginary plane Si or so as to spread obliquely withrespect to the angle of view lines when viewed in the verticaldirection. In this way, in the inclined portion 18043 b of each sidewall portion 18043, the further the inner wall surface 18430 b getscloser to the lens barrel 35, the further the inner wall surface 18430 bis inclined toward the optical axes Aw and Al in a range outside thelens angle of view θw on the imaginary plane Si when viewed in thevertical direction (that is, when viewed in the horizontal plane). Thelens barrel 35 is exposed through the lens window 420 in the lens unit33.

The straight portions 18043 c of the respective side wall portions 18043are provided on the left and right sides symmetrically with the opticalaxes Aw and Al. The straight portion 18043 c of each side wall portion18043 is formed substantially in parallel with the optical axes Aw andAl so as to extend from the front end portion of the inclined portion18043 b of the same side wall portion 18043 into the inside of the lensangle of view θw on the imaginary plane Si when viewed in the verticaldirection. In particular, the trapezoidal planar inner wall surface18430 c of the straight portion 18043 c of each side wall portion 18043is formed so as to intersect with the angle of view lines representingboth of the right and left side edges of the lens angle of view θw onthe imaginary plane Si when viewed in the vertical direction. However,the straight portion 18043 c of each side wall portion 18043 viewed fromthe right and left direction (that is, the side direction) in thehorizontal direction is formed at a height that avoids the angle of viewlines representing both of the right and left side edges of the lensangle of view θw on the imaginary plane on the lower side of the angleof view. In other words, the height of the straight portion 18043 c ineach side wall portion 18043 is set to a height that does not blockedges of the lens angle of view θw on the imaginary plane Si. In thisway, the straight portion 18043 c of each side wall portion 18043 isalso located in a posture in which the straight portion 18043 c isspaced from the inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3 with theclearance 18430. On the straight portions 18043 c of the respective sidewall portions 18043, the inner wall surfaces 18430 c spread in asymmetrical shape substantially in parallel with the optical axes Aw andAl in the range inside the lens angle of view θw on the imaginary planeSi when viewed in the vertical direction.

(Operational Effects)

Subsequently, the operational effects of the eighteenth embodimentdescribed above will be described.

The hood 18040 of the eighteenth embodiment as in the ninth embodimentenables to restrict excess light incidence from the external environment5 outside the imaging target range of the imager 34 to the lens unit 33.The configuration enables to restrict the excess light from beingsuperimposed on the normal optical image within the imaging target rangeand from interfering with the imaging.

In particular, according to the hood 18040 of the eighteenth embodiment,the base wall portion 9041 is located to face the front windshield 3across the imaging space 410, and the side wall portions 18043 areraised from the base wall portion 9041 on the lateral sides of theimaging space 410. The side wall portions 18043 are formed, on theimaginary plane Si, at the height avoiding the edges of the lens angleof view θw of the lens unit 33. According to the configuration, eventhough the hood 18040 is formed small, at least the incidence of theoptical image within the imaging target range is unlikely blocked on theimaginary plane Si, which is imaginarily formed along the horizontaldirection to include the optical axes Aw and Al of the lens unit 33, andon the front windshield 3 side (that is, the upper side) of theimaginary plane Si. Therefore, the camera module 1 including the hood18040, which is capable of capturing the normal optical image in thelens angle of view θw, can be reduced in size.

Further, as in the ninth embodiment, the lens unit 33 according to theeighteenth embodiment includes the wide angle lens 36 to ensure the widelens angle of view θw, and therefore, a concern arises that incidentexcess light increases and that the hood 18040 becomes larger in size.However, as described above, in the eighteenth embodiment, even thoughthe hood 18040 is formed small, the configuration enables not only torestrict excess light incident on the lens unit 33 but also to unlikelyblock the light incidence on the imaginary plane Si and incidence on thefront windshield 3 side relative to the imaginary plane Si. Moreover, inthe eighteenth embodiment, in which the special wide angle lens 36described in the first embodiment is employed similarly to the ninthembodiment, even though the size of the wide angle optical surface 360is reduced, at least the imaging of the normal optical image can besecured on the imaginary plane Si and on the front windshield 3 siderelative to the imaginary plane Si. From the above viewpoints, theconfiguration enables to reduce in size the camera module 1 thatincludes the hood 18040, which is capable of capturing the normaloptical image in the lens angle of view θw, together with the wide anglelens 36.

As in the ninth embodiment, according to the hood 18040 of theeighteenth embodiment, in the base wall portion 9041 located to face thefront windshield 3 across the imaging space 410, the multiplerestriction ribs 411 protrude into the imaging space 410 to restrict thelight reflection on the lens unit 33. The configuration enables torestrict the reflected light on the base wall portion 9041, which islikely to increase the light incidence, from being superimposed on thenormal optical image in the lens angle of view θw and from interferingwith the imaging under the placement of the base wall portion 9041 toface the front windshield 3.

In addition, as in the ninth embodiment, according to the hood 18040 ofthe eighteenth embodiment, the specific ribs 411 a, which have thehigher protrusion height and are located around the lens unit 33, amongthe multiple restriction ribs 411 are likely to block the optical pathin which the reflected light on the base wall portion 9041 travels tothe lens unit 33. The configuration enables to enhance the effect ofrestricting the reflected light on the base wall portion 9041 from beingsuperimposed on the normal optical image in the lens angle of view θwand from interfering with the imaging.

Further, the hood 18040 of the eighteenth embodiment defines theclearance 18430 between the side wall portion 18043 and the frontwindshield 3. The configuration blocks the light, which is reflected onthe front windshield 3 and would enter the lens angle of view θw, withthe side wall portions 18043. In addition, the configuration enables toenlarge as much as possible the imaging space 410 between the base wallportion 9041, from which the side wall portions 18043 are raised, andthe front windshield 3. Therefore, the camera module 1 including thehood 18040, which enables to capture the normal optical image within thelens angle of view θw as wide as possible, enables to restrict thereflected light on the front windshield 3 from being superimposed on thenormal image and from interfering with the imaging.

According to the eighteenth embodiment, the side wall portions 18043 areformed along the optical axes Aw and Al on the imaginary plane Si insidethe lens angle of view θw. Therefore, the lateral width of the hood18040 along the right and left direction (that is, the lateraldirection) in the horizontal direction can be limited to a small width.Therefore, the configuration promotes reduction in size of the cameramodule 1, which includes the hood 18040 capable of capturing the normaloptical image in the lens angle of view θw.

According to the eighteenth embodiment, the side wall portions 18043 areformed in the symmetrical shape across the optical axes Aw and Al on theimaginary plane Si inside the lens angle of view θw. Therefore, the hood18040 can be configured with a small and relatively simple structure.Therefore, the configuration enables to promote reduction in size andsimplification of the camera module 1, which includes the hood 18040capable of capturing the normal optical image in the lens angle of viewθw.

According to the hood 18040 of the eighteenth embodiment, the inclinedportions 18043 b of the side wall portions 18043, which are locatedoutside the lens angle of view θw on the imaginary plane Si, are shapedsuch that the further the inclined portions 18043 b gets closer towardthe lens unit 33 side, the further the inclined portions 18043 b areinclined toward the optical axes Aw and Al. According to theconfiguration, the hood 18040 can be formed in a size as small aspossible while securing the lens angle of view θw. Therefore, theconfiguration enables to promote reduction in size of the camera module1, which includes the hood 18040 capable of capturing the normal opticalimage in the lens angle of view θw.

(Nineteenth Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 48, a nineteenth embodiment is a modification of theeighteenth embodiment.

In the nineteenth embodiment, a hood 19040 has substantially the sameconfiguration as that of the hood 18040 except that the restriction ribs411 are not provided. Therefore, also according to the nineteenthembodiment, the same operational effects as those of the eighteenthembodiment can be produced except for the operational effects of therestriction ribs 411 including the specific ribs 411 a.

(Twentieth Embodiment)

A camera module (camera unit) 20001 according to a twentieth embodimentshown in FIGS. 49 to 51 is mounted to an inside of the front windshield3 of the vehicle 2, more specifically, to the inner surface 3 a througha bracket, which is not shown. In the following description of thetwentieth embodiment, the representation of directions of the cameramodule 20001 and components of the camera module 20001, for example, therepresentation of the front and back direction, the right and leftdirection, the vertical direction, and the like, are based on the cameramodule 20001 mounted to the front windshield 3. The front and backdirection and the right and left direction of the camera module 20001and the components of the camera module 20001 are synonymous with thefront and back direction and the right and left direction of thevehicle.

The camera module 20001 includes a camera module main body (camera unitmain body) 20001 a and a hood 20040. The camera module main body 20001 aaccommodates the components of the camera including a wide angle lens20036 inside a camera casing (housing) 20020 which is a box-shapedcomponent.

The wide angle lens 20036 is provided at a position above the cameracasing 20020 and exposed from the camera casing 20020 when viewed fromthe front side. In other words, the wide angle lens 20036 is located ata position enabling to image the outside of the vehicle 2 from theinside of the front windshield 3. As shown in FIGS. 50 and 51, on theimaginary plane Si, which is imaginarily formed along the light and leftdirection and the front and back direction in the horizontal directionand includes the optical axis Aw, and on condition that the optical axisAw is along the front and back direction, the wide angle lens 20036 hasthe angle of view θ about 75° to about 150°. The angle of view θ is, forexample, 90°. In this example, as indicated by two-dot chain linehatching in FIG. 51, a region is included within a range of the angle ofview θ on the horizontal plane, which is the imaginary plane Siincluding the optical axis Aw, and the region is defined as a horizontalangle of view region 20036 a. Further, two straight lines (that is,broken lines in FIG. 51) divide the horizontal angle of view region20036 from a region, which is other than the horizontal angle of viewregion 20036 a, on the horizontal plane including the optical axis Aw.The two straight lines are referred to as edges of the angle of view θon the horizontal plane. The region outside the range of the angle ofview θ is on the horizontal plane including the optical axis Aw.

The hood 20040 is a component for restricting light, which is from thevehicle compartment 4 of the vehicle 2 shown in FIG. 50 and is reflectedon the inside of the front windshield 3, from entering the wide anglelens 20036. Therefore, the hood 20040 is fixed to a front portion of theupper surface of the camera casing 20020 to cover the wide angle lens20036 from the lower side. In this example, the hood 20040 is configuredas a separate member assembled to the camera casing 20020. The hood20040 may be integrally formed with the camera casing 20020.

As shown in FIGS. 49 to 51, in the vehicle 2 on the horizontal plane,the hood 20040 is a tray-like component having a bilaterally symmetricalshape with respect to a vertical plane. The vertical plane includes theoptical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 20036. In other words, the hood20040 is symmetrical with respect to the optical axis Aw when viewed inthe vertical direction. Specifically, the hood 20040 includes a basewall portion (bottom wall portion) 20041, two side wall portion portions(side wall portions) 20043, and a rear end wall portion (rear wallportion) 20042.

The base wall portion 20041 is a hexagonal flat plate located on thelower side of the optical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 20036. Morespecifically, the base wall portion 20041 has two lateral sides, whichare parallel to each other, a front end side, which connects front endsof the two lateral sides to each other, two inclined sides, which extendobliquely rearward from rear ends of the respective two lateral sides soas to approach each other, and a rear end side, which connects rear endsof the two inclined sides to each other. It is preferable that an anglebetween each of the two lateral sides and the front end side issubstantially a right angle, nevertheless, the angle may not benecessarily substantially a right angle. In addition, the front end sideand the rear end side are substantially parallel to each other.

The base wall portion 20041 is inclined so that the front end side ofthe base wall portion 20041 is the lowest. In this example, theinclination of the base wall portion 20041 is smaller than theinclination of a portion of the front windshield 3 located on the frontside of the base wall portion 20041. In this way, the base wall portion20041 comes closest to the front windshield 3 at the front end side.Multiple protrusions (that is, restriction ribs) or multiple grooves maybe provided in the base wall portion 20041 in order to reduce reflectionor the like.

The two side wall portions 20043 are plates raised from both of theright and left sides, specifically, from the right and left lateralsides and from the inclined sides of the base wall portion 20041 towardthe front windshield 3, in other words, toward the upper side. The twoside wall portions 20043 are raised substantially vertically from thebase wall portion 20041. However, the respective side wall portions20043 are not necessarily raised substantially vertically from the basewall portion 20041 so far as, the height of each side wall portion 20043in the vertical direction is designed so that the upper end of each sidewall portion 20043 comes closer to the inner surface 3 a of the frontwindshield 3 and does not block the edges of the angle of view θ on thehorizontal plane. The horizontal plane is the imaginary plane Siincluding the optical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 20036. As shown inFIG. 50, each side wall portion 20043 is located to form a clearance20430, specifically, a minute clearance 20430 of about 2 to 3 mm,between the upper end of the side wall portion 20043 and the frontwindshield 3.

As shown in FIGS. 49 to 51, each side wall portion 20043 has a flatplate-shaped straight portion (straight wall) 20043 c and a plate-likeinclined portion (inclined wall) 20043 b as one pair. The flatplate-shaped straight portion 20043 c is along the lateral side of thebase wall portion 20041. The plate-like inclined portion 20043 b isalong the inclined side of the base wall portion 20041. The flatplate-shaped straight portions 20043 c and the plate-like inclinedportions 20043 b are in a symmetrical shape with respect to the opticalaxis Aw. Each of the straight portions 20043 c is in a linear shapesubstantially parallel to the optical axis Aw when viewed in thevertical direction. On the other hand, each of the inclined portions20043 b is in a linear shape, and the further the inclined portion 20043b gets closer toward the wide angle lens 20036, the further the inclinedportion 20043 b is inclined in a direction to approach the optical axisAs when viewed in the vertical direction. Further, the straight portion20043 c and the inclined portion 20043 b shown in FIG. 50 are configuredso that a projected shape when observed from the right and leftdirection (that is, in the vehicle width direction or in the horizontaldirection) is a triangle in which the height gradually decreases fromthe rear side toward the front side of the vehicle 2. In this way, theclearance 20430 between the upper end edge of the straight portion 20043c and the front windshield 3 and the clearance 20430 between the upperend edge of the inclined portion 20043 b and the front windshield 3 canbe kept substantially constant. Further, each straight portion 20043 cis partially included in the horizontal angle of view region 20036 awhen viewed in the vertical direction. On the other hand, each inclinedportion 20043 b is not included in the horizontal angle of view region20036 a when viewed in the vertical direction.

The rear end wall portion 20042 is a flat plate raised from the rearside of the base wall portion 20041 toward the front windshield 3, thatis, upward. The rear end wall portion 20042 connects the rear ends ofthe two side wall portions 20043 to each other. In addition, the rearend wall portion 20042 has a through hole 20420 at a position coveringthe wide angle lens 20036. In other words, the wide angle lens 20036 islocated so as to be exposed through the through hole 20420 of the rearend wall portion 20042.

(Operational Effects)

According to the twentieth embodiment described above, the followingoperational effects are produced.

According to the twentieth embodiment, the configuration is adapted tothe wide angle lens 20036 while enabling to reduce the hood 20040 insize for the following reasons. That is, for example, as in acomparative example shown in FIG. 52, when the hood is to be configuredwithout the side wall portions 7 in the range of the angle of view whenviewed in the vertical direction, a concern arises that the lateralwidth of the hood becomes larger when the wide angle lens is employed.To the contrary, in the twentieth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 51, apart of each side wall portion 20043 is within the horizontal angle ofview region 20036 a when viewed in the vertical direction. Therefore, onthe horizontal plane as the imaginary plane Si including at least theoptical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 20036, the hood 20040 isconfigured so that the imageable range is not blocked with each sidewall portion 20043. According to the configuration, the hood 20040 canbe reduced in size while taking advantage of the wide angle of view θ ofthe wide angle lens 20036 in the horizontal direction.

In addition, according to the twentieth embodiment, each side wallportion 20043 is located with the slight clearance 20430 between theside wall portion 20043 and the front windshield 3. In this way, theimageable range can be enlarged such that a phenomenon, which is due toreflection of light from the vehicle compartment 4 on the inside of thefront windshield 3, unlikely occurs. That is, a phenomenon, in which anobject in the vehicle compartment 4 is reflected as a captured image,unlikely occurs. In this example, in the twentieth embodiment, theclearance 20430 between each side wall portion 20043 and the frontwindshield 3 is as small as about 2 to 3 mm. For this reason, even in acase where an object in the vehicle compartment 4 is reflected as thecaptured image, the size of the object on the captured image is verysmall, for example, about 5 pixels. Therefore, even in a case where anobject, which is likely to be misrecognized as a lane line, apedestrian, or the like, is present in the vehicle compartment 4, only asmall part of the object is reflected in the captured image. Therefore,an erroneous recognition unlikely occurs. Thus, according to thetwentieth embodiment, the configuration enables to enlarge the imageablerange to an extent that the erroneous recognition, which is caused byreflecting the object in the vehicle compartment 4 in the capturedimage, unlikely occurs.

In the twentieth embodiment, each of the straight portions 20043 c whenviewed in the vertical direction has a linear shape substantiallyparallel to the optical axis Aw and is configured so as to be partiallyincluded in the horizontal angle of view region 20036 a. In addition,the straight portions 20043 c when viewed in the vertical direction havethe symmetrical shape with respect to the optical axis Aw. Thoseconfigurations enable to ensure the distance between the wide angle lens20036 and each straight portion 20043 c while restricting the lateralwidth of the hood 20040.

In the twentieth embodiment, each side wall portion 20043 when viewed inthe vertical direction is in a shape such that the inclined portion20043 b is in the region other than the horizontal angle of view region20036 a. This is because the hood 20040 is the hexagonal tray-likecomponent. In this way, the area of the base wall portion 20041 can bereduced in the region other than the horizontal angle of view region20036 a, that is, in the region not required to cover the lower side ofthe wide angle lens 20036. Therefore, according to the twentiethembodiment, the hood 20040 per se can be downsized as compared with theconfiguration without the inclined portion 20043 b.

In the hood 20040 described above, the edges of the angle of view θ ison the imaginary plane Si, which is imaginarily formed in at least theright and left direction in the horizontal direction and includes theoptical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 20036. The hood 20040 describedabove includes the two side wall portions 20043 at a height that doesnot block the edges of the angle of view θ on the horizontal plane oncondition that the optical axis Aw is along the front and back directionin the horizontal direction. However, the configuration of each sidewall portion 20043 is not limited to the above configuration. Forexample, in a case where the optical axis Aw is inclined to the lowerside or to the upper side toward the front side in the front and backdirection, on condition that the hood 20040 has the two side wallportions 20043 at the height that does not block the edges of the angleof view θ on the imaginary plane Si imaginarily formed along the rightand left direction and includes the inclined optical axis Aw, theoperational effects as those described above can be produced.

In the hood 2040 as described above, each side wall portion 20043 hasthe straight portion 20043 c and the inclined portion 20043 b. It isnoted that, the configuration of the side wall portion 20043 is notlimited to the above example. In the example as shown in FIGS. 53, 75,the hood 20040 is in a rectangular tray-shape. The hood 20040 has theside wall portions 20043 each having only the straight portion (linearwall) 20043 c. Even in this configuration, the upper end of each sidewall portion 20043 has the height such that the upper end is close tothe inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3 and does not block theedges of the angle of view θ on the imaginary plane Si including theoptical axis Aw of the wide angle lens 20036. The configuration will bedescribed further in detail with reference to FIG. 75. FIG. 75 is aperspective view illustrating the horizontal angle of view range of thefirst taper angle θ1, which is required for the specific control Cs, andthe horizontal angle of view range of the lens angle of view θw of thelens unit on FIG. 53. FIG. 75 shows the relationship of the horizontalangle of view ranges and the side wall portions 20043. Lines θwL definethe lens angle of view θw in which the wide angle lens 20036 isconfigured to image on an arbitrary horizontal plane, which passesthrough the wide angle range 20036. The lines θwL are blocked by theside wall portions 20043, respectively. Lines θ1L define the first taperangle θ1 of the wide angle lens 20036 on the arbitrary horizontal plane.Each of the lines θ1L passes on the upper side of the corresponding sidewall portion 20043 via a clearance D (D≥0) from the corresponding sidewall portion 20043. In other words, the side wall portions 20043 areraised to its height lower than edge lines on both sides of a field oflens angle of view. The field of lens angle of view is defined by thefirst taper angle θ1 of the wide angle lens 20036 on the arbitraryhorizontal plane. The field of lens angle of view defines a field torecognize an obstacle in an external environment 5 in front of thevehicle. The angle between the edges of the field of the first taperangle θ1 is selected from an angular range of 80° to 110°. Theconfiguration also produces an operation effect similar to theabove-described effect.

(Other Embodiments)

Above description is given of multiple embodiments; however, the presentdisclosure is not to be interpreted as being limited to the embodimentsand may be applied to various embodiments and combinations in a scopewhich does not depart from the intent of the present disclosure. In thefollowing description, FIGS. 54 and 55 typically illustratemodifications according to the second embodiment, and FIGS. 56, 57 and67 typically illustrate modifications according to the first embodiment.FIGS. 58 and 68 to 73 typically illustrate modifications according tothe ninth embodiment, and FIGS. 59 and 60 typically illustratemodifications according to the third embodiment. FIGS. 61 and 62typically illustrate modifications according to the fourth embodiment,and FIGS. 63 and 74 typically illustrate modifications according to thefifteenth embodiment.

Specifically, in Modification 1 relating to the first to nineteenthembodiments, as shown in FIG. 54, locking claw portion 355 a and 2355 ashaped to lock the wide angle lens 36 and 2036 may be formed by crimpingthe front side end portion of the wide angle accommodation portion 350 aafter fitting the wide angle lens 36 and 2036 into the wide angleaccommodation portion 350 a. In this case, the front caps 355 and 2355are not required.

In Modification 2 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, asshown in FIG. 55, the wide angle lens 36 and 2036 are fixed on the frontoptical surface of the first rear lens 371 in an overlapping manner, soas to be sandwiched between the front caps 355, 2355 and the secondspacer 352. In this case, the first spacer 351 is not required.

In Modification 3 according to the first and third to nineteenthembodiments, as shown in FIG. 56, the wide angle lens 36 may be adheredfrom the front side to the front cap 355 having the locking claw portion355 a that locks the first rear lens 371 from the front side. In thiscase, the first spacer 351 and the wide angle accommodation portion 350a are not required. In addition, In this case, a reflection restrictionportion 1363 according to the second embodiment may be provided on theouter peripheral surface 362 and 2362 of the wide angle lens 36 and2036.

In Modification 4 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, asshown in FIG. 57, the linear chord portion 360 b may be replaced with acurved portion 1360 b that curves convex downward with a smallercurvature than the arc portion 360 a to produce the cut form of the wideangle optical surface 360 and 2360. In Modification 5 according to thefirst to nineteenth embodiments, as long as the upper size Rwu largerthan the lower size Rwl in the lowermost portion Pwl is ensured on theuppermost portion Pwu, the curvature of the arc portion 360 a in thewide angle optical surface 360 and 2360 may change in thecircumferential direction. In Modification 6 according to the first tonineteenth embodiments, the wide angle lens 36 and 2036 may have cutforms conforming to the wide angle optical surface 360 and 2360 on theright and left side portions.

In Modification 7 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, asshown in FIG. 58, the wide angle lens 36 and 2036 do not have a cutform. In this case, the respective optical axes Aw and Al of the wideangle lens 36 and 2036 and the lens set 37 may not be shifted from thegeometric center Cwg of the wide angle optical surface 360 and may passthrough the geometric center Cwg. Even In this case, the operationaleffects, which are caused by shifting the geometric center Cig of theeffective image capturing region 340 in the imager 34 toward the lowerside of the respective optical axes Aw and Al of the wide angle lens 36and 2036 and the lens set 37, can be produced.

In Modification 8 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, thelens set 37 may be configured with multiple rear lens of a number otherthan five or may be configured with one rear lens, as a lens having theoptical axis Al, which is substantially the same as the optical axis Awof the wide angle lens 36 and 2036. In Modification 9 according to thefirst to nineteenth embodiments, at least one rear lens in the lens set37 may have a cut form according to the wide angle optical surface 360and 2360 on the upper side. In Modification 10 according to the first tonineteenth embodiments, the rear lens may not be provided.

In Modification 11 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, therespective optical axes Aw and Al of the wide angle lens 36 and 2036 andthe lens set 37 are not substantially shifted from the geometric centerCig of the effective image capturing region 340 in the imager 34, andmay pass through the geometric center Cig. In Modification 12 accordingto the first to nineteenth embodiments, an exposure state at the nextimaging time may be controlled based on the pixel value of apredetermined pixel including the vehicle image capturing pixels 551 aof the outside image 551.

In Modification 13 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, atleast a part of the functions of the control circuit 55 for controllingthe imager 34 may be attained by an external circuit outside the cameracasing 20, 3020, 5020, and 6020 such as an ECU. In a case shown in FIG.59 as a specific example In this case, the entire control circuit 55 islocated outside the camera casing 3020 as an external circuit such as anECU, and the FPC 3053 is connected to the external connector 544. Inthis case, there is no need to take measures for the control circuit 55against thermal radiation, and the control circuit 55 can be reduced insize. In the specific example of FIG. 59, the board 54 for mounting theinternal connector 543 connected to the FPC 3053 remains in addition tothe external connector 544 connected to the external control circuit 55.

In Modification 14 according to the first to sixteenth, eighteenth, andnineteenth embodiments, the connection hole 542 may not be provided inthe control board 54. In this case, the imaging board 51 and 7051 may beconnected to the internal connector 543 mounted on the upper mountingsurface 540 of the control board 54 through or not through the FPC 53and 3053. Alternatively, the imaging board 51 and 7051 may be connectedto the internal connector 543 mounted on the lower mounting surface 541of the control board 54 through FPC 53 and 3053 which wrap around anouter peripheral side of the control board 54.

In Modification 15 according to the first, second and ninth tonineteenth embodiments, at least one of the opposing wall portion 210 orthe recess wall portion 212 may not be provided in the camera casing 20.In Modification 16 according to the first to fifth, seventh tothirteenth, and eighteenth and nineteenth embodiments, the mounting pad12 directly held by the camera casing 20, 3020, and 5020 may be fixed tothe front windshield 3 without the bracket main body 11.

In Modification 17 according to the first to fifth, seventh tothirteenth, eighteenth and nineteenth embodiments, the hood 40, 9040,10040, 11040, 12040, 18040, and 19040 may be formed separately from thebracket main body 11. In Modification 18 according to the sixteenth andseventeenth embodiments, the hood 9040 may be formed integrally with thebracket main body 15011.

In Modification 19 according to the first to sixteenth and eighteenthembodiments, the height of each of the restriction ribs 411 may besubstantially equal to each other in the hood 40, 6040, 9040, 10040,11040, 12040, and 18040. In Modification 20 according to the first tosixteenth embodiments, the restriction ribs 411 may not be provided inthe hood 40, 6040, 9040, 10040, 11040, and 12040. In Modification 21according to the seventeenth embodiment, the restriction ribs 411including the specific ribs 411 a may be provided on the hood 17040.

In Modification 22 according to first to nineteenth embodiments, asshown in FIG. 60, in the camera casing 20, 3020, 5020, and 6020, thesurroundings of the external connector 544 may be open to the outsidethrough an opening 1024 formed in the upper casing members 21, 3021, and6021. In this case, since the external connector 544 can be cooled withan air flow in the vehicle compartment 4, the thermal radiationperformance can be enhanced.

In Modification 23 according to the third to nineteenth embodiments, awide angle lens 2036 according to the second embodiment may be provided.In Modification 24 according to the fourth to sixteenth, eighteenth, andnineteenth embodiments, the relay member 3056 connected to the FPC 3053substituted for the FPC 53 according to the third embodiment may beadded. In Modification 25 according to the first to nineteenthembodiments, as shown in FIG. 61, the relay member 3056 according to thethird embodiment may be provided in a structure where at least one ofthe control board 54, 17054 or the control circuit 55 is connected tothe lower casing member 22 and 3022 of the camera casing 20, 3020, 5020,and 6020.

In Modification 26 according to the fourth and sixth to eighthembodiments, as shown in FIG. 62, the relay member 3056 according to thethird embodiment may be formed in a rigid plate form at a placementlocation of the FPC 4053 and may be substituted for the FPC 4053. InModification 27 according to the ninth to nineteenth embodiments, theFPC 4053 may be added according to the fourth embodiment.

In Modification 28 according to the sixth to eighth embodiments, the FPC4053 may be connected to the connection member 5023 according to thefifth embodiment. In Modification 29 according to the ninth tonineteenth embodiments, the connection member 5023 may be added togetherwith the FPC 4053 according to the fifth embodiment.

In Modification 30 according to the first to third, fifth, seventh tothirteenth and fifteenth to nineteenth embodiments, the hood 40, 9040,10040, 11040, 12040, 17040, 18040, and 19040 may be formed by the cameracasing 20, 3020, and 5020 according to the sixth embodiment as shown inFIG. 63. In Modification 31 according to the sixth embodiment, thebracket main body 11 having no hood 6040 may be provided in a case wherethe hood 6040 is configured with a part of the camera casing 6020.

In Modification 32 according to the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG.64, the FPC 4053 may not be provided, and the relay member 3056connected to the FPC 3053 may be added in combination with Modification24 described above. In this case, the FPC 3053 may be connected not onlyto the imaging board 51 but also to the filler 7038 by at least one ofadhesion fixing or conduction fixing.

In Modification 33 according to the eighth embodiment, as shown in FIG.65, the FPC 4053 may not be provided. In this case, the relay member3056 connected to the FPC 3053 may be added or may not be connected bycombination with Modification 24 described above. Further, inModification 33 in which the relay member 3056 is added, the FPC 3053connected to the imaging board 51 may be connected to the filler 7038 byat least one of adhesion fixing or conduction fixing or may not beconnected to the filler 7038.

In Modification 34 according to the eighth embodiment, a part of or allof the space between the through hole shaped lens window 216 and thelens barrel 35 of the lens unit 33 may not be filled with the adhesive8039. In a configuration shown in FIG. 66 as a specific example In thiscase, the space between the lens window 216 and the lens barrel 35 isnot filled with the adhesive 8039 at all but is opened.

In Modification 35 according to the eighth embodiment, the adhesive 8039may be provided between one of the lens unit 33 and the assembly holder7031 and the camera casing 3020, but may not be provided between theother and the casing 3020. In a configuration shown in FIG. 66 as aspecific example of that case, no adhesive 8039 is provided between thelens unit 33 and the camera casing 3020.

In Modification 36 according to the ninth to nineteenth embodiments, thefiller 7038 may be added together with the FPC 4053 according to theseventh embodiment. In Modification 37 according to the ninth tonineteenth embodiments, the filler 7038 and the adhesive 8039 may beadded together with the FPC 4053 according to the eighth embodiment.

In Modification 38 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, asshown in FIG. 67, a lower portion of a wide angle lens 1036 having nocut form may be buried in the lens barrel 35 and 2035 in combinationwith Modification 7 described above. In this way, the wide angle opticalsurface 360 and 2360 according to the first or second embodiment areconfigured in a pseudo manner.

In Modification 39 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, anasymmetric structure may be employed so that the side wall portion 43,9043, 10043, 11043, 12043, and 18043 is bilaterally asymmetric with theoptical axes Aw and Al. In a configuration shown in FIG. 68 as aspecific example In this case, the first imaginary intersection I1 isassociated with an upper portion of the intermediate portion of theinclined portion 9043 b on one side. In this way, an asymmetricstructure is formed according to the shift amount between the center ofthe opening window 6 a and the installation location in the range Xhshown in FIG. 1 or the like.

In Modification 40 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, atleast one side wall portion 43, 9043, 10043, 11043, 12043, and 18043 maybe raised upright from the base wall portion 41 and 9041 at an acuteangle or obtuse angle. In Modification 41 according to the first toeighth embodiments, the inner wall surface 43 a of at least one sidewall portion 43 may be formed in a curved surface shape or in a bentsurface shape.

In Modification 42 according to the ninth to the seventeenthembodiments, as shown in FIGS. 69 and 70, in the vehicle 2, steppedportions 1041 b may be formed in the base wall portion 9041 and 41 sothat the second taper angle θ2 is divided along the taper line from theperiphery of the lens unit 33 to the second imaginary intersection I2.In this case, in the bottom wall surface 9041 a and 41 a of the basewall portion 9041 and 41, outer bottom surfaces 1041 c are shiftedupward from an inner bottom surface 1041 d. The outer bottom surfaces1041 c spread to predetermined outer regions of the stepped portions1041 b, respectively. The inner bottom surface 1041 d spreads entirelyinside the stepped portions 1041 b.

In Modification 43 according to the ninth to nineteenth embodiments, asshown in FIG. 71, the inner wall surface 9430 b and 18430 b in theinclined portion 9043 b and 18043 b on at least one side may be formedin a curved surface shape or in a bent surface shape. In this case, theinclined portion 9043 b in Modification 43 according to the ninth to theseventeenth embodiments is formed so as not to enter the inside of thefirst taper angle θ1 when viewed in the vertical direction, therebyproducing a state in which the inclined portion 9043 b spreads from theperiphery of the lens unit 33 toward the first imaginary intersectionI1. In this example, FIG. 71 shows a specific example in which the innerwall surfaces 9430 b are formed in a curved surface shape in theinclined portions 9043 b on both sides. In Modification 43 according tothe eighteenth and nineteenth embodiments, a height avoiding the edgesof the lens angle of view θw on the imaginary plane Si is attained bythe inclined portions 18043 b of the inner wall surfaces 18430 b in thecurved surface shape or in the bent surface shape.

In Modification 44 according to the ninth, eleventh, and fourteenth tonineteenth embodiments, as shown in FIG. 72, instead of the straightportions 9043 c, 11043 c, and 18043 c on at least one side, reverseinclined portions 1043 c may be formed. Each of the reverse inclinedportions 1043 c has the inner wall surface 9430 c, 11430 c, and 18430 cin a planar shape, in a curved surface shape, or in a bent surface shapeand are inclined in a direction opposite to the inclined portions 9043 band 18043 b. In this case, the reverse inclined portions 1043 c inModification 44 according to the ninth to the seventeenth embodimentsspread to the second imaginary intersection I2 so as not to enter theinside of the second taper angle θ2 when viewed in the verticaldirection. FIG. 72 shows a specific example in which the inner wallsurfaces 9430 c in a planar shape are formed on both sides in thereverse inclined portions 1043 c. Further, in Modification 44 accordingto the eighteenth and nineteenth embodiments, the reverse inclinedportions 1043 c enable to attain the height that avoids the edges of thelens angle of view θw on the imaginary plane Si.

In Modification 45 according to the ninth to eleventh and the fourteenthto nineteenth embodiments, as shown in FIG. 73, instead of the straightportion 9043 c, 11043 c, and 18043 c or the inclined portion 10043 c onat least one side, a curved portion 1143 c having the inner wall surface9430 c, 10430 c, 11430 c, and 18430 c in a curved surface shape or in abent surface shape may be formed. In this case, the curved portions 1143c in Modification 45 according to the ninth to the seventeenthembodiments spread to lateral sides outside the second imaginaryintersection I2 so as not to enter the inside of the second taper angleθ2 when viewed in the vertical direction. FIG. 73 shows a specificexample in which the inner wall surfaces 9430 c are formed in a curvedsurface shape in the curved portions 1143 c on both sides. Further, inModification 45 according to the eighteenth and nineteenth embodiments,the curved portions 1143 c enables to attain the height that avoids theedges of the lens angle of view θw on the imaginary plane Si.

In Modification 46 according to the fourteenth to the seventeenthembodiments, a curved structure may be employed so that the uppersurface 14011 a of the bracket main body 14011 and 15011 is curved so asto conform to the inner surface 3 a of the front windshield 3. In aconfiguration shown in FIG. 74 as a specific example, an asymmetricstructure is formed according to the shift amount between the center ofthe opening window 6 a and the installation location in the range Xhshown in FIG. 1 or the like, so that the heights of the respective sidewall portions 9043 are different from each other on the right and leftin combination with Modification 39 described above.

In Modification 47 according to the eleventh and fourteenth tonineteenth embodiments, the inclined portion 10043 c according to thetenth embodiment may be provided in place of the straight portion 11043c, 9043 c, and 18043 c on at least one side. In this case, inModification 47 according to the eleventh embodiment, the inclinedportion 10043 c formed of a polarizing filter is provided. InModification 47 according to the fourteenth to nineteenth embodiments,the inclined portions 10043 formed of the polarizing filter may beprovided according to the eleventh embodiment. In Modification 47according to the eighteenth and nineteenth embodiments, the inclinedportion 10043 c, in which its inclination relative to the optical axesAw and Al is smaller than the inclined portion 18043 b, enables toattain the height that avoids the edges of the lens angle of view θw onthe imaginary plane Si.

In Modification 48 according to the fourteenth to nineteenthembodiments, the straight portion 11043 c formed of the polarizingfilter according to the eleventh embodiment may be provided instead ofthe straight portion 9043 c and 18043 c on at least one side. InModification 49 according to the fourteenth, fifteenth, eighteenth andnineteenth embodiments, the side wall portion 9043 and 18043 may beformed in a cut form according to the twelfth embodiment.

In Modification 50 according to the sixteenth and seventeenthembodiments, the side wall portion 9043 and the camera cover 16060 maybe formed in a cut form according to the thirteenth embodiment. InModification 51 according to the eighteenth and nineteenth embodiments,the cut-like camera cover 13060 is provided together with the cut-likeside wall portions 18043 in combination with Modification 49 describedabove, according to the thirteenth embodiment.

In Modification 52 according to the eighteenth and nineteenthembodiments, the bracket assembly 14010 according to the fourteenthembodiment may be provided integrally with the hood 18040 and 19040instead of the bracket assembly 10. In Modification 53 according to theeighteenth and nineteenth embodiments, the bracket assembly 15010according to the fifteenth embodiment may be provided separately fromthe hood 18040 and 19040, in place of the bracket assembly 10. InModification 54 according to the first to eighth embodiments, the hood40 and 6040 may not be provided. In Modification 55 according to thefirst to nineteenth embodiments, multiple grooves are provided so as toextend in the right and left direction in the hood 40, 6040, 9040,10040, 11040, 12040, 17040, 18040, and 19040. In this case, inModification 55 according to the first to sixteenth embodiments, thegrooves are provided in place of the restriction ribs 411 in combinationwith Modification 20 described above.

In Modification 56 according to the first to twelfth, fourteenth,eighteenth, and nineteenth embodiments, the camera cover 16060 accordingto the sixteenth embodiment may be provided. In Modification 57according to the seventeenth embodiment, the camera cover 16060 may notbe provided. In Modification 58 according to the first to sixteenth,eighteenth, and nineteenth embodiments, the assembly holder 31 and 7031may be modified into a structure conforming to the assembly holder 17031of the seventeenth embodiment. In Modification 59 according to the firstto sixteenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth embodiments, the control board54 may be modified into a structure conforming to the control board17054 of the seventeenth embodiment.

In Modification 60 according to the ninth to the seventeenthembodiments, the specific control Cs may be other than the collisionavoidance control of the vehicle 2. In Modification 61 according to theninth to seventeenth embodiments, as long as the other control Ca isdifferent from the specific control Cs, the other control Ca may beother than the driving control of the vehicle 2 in a traveling lane. InModification 62 according to the ninth to the seventeenth embodiments,the other control Ca may not be executed. In this case, since the secondtaper angle θ2 is not defined, the second imaginary intersection I2 maynot be imaginarily formed. For example, a structure may be employed inwhich the base wall portion 9041 and 41 is along a predetermined seconddepression angle ψd2.

In Modification 63 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, thematerial of the assembly holder 31, 7031, and 17031 is exemplified bythe resin or the like. As the material, a molding material is preferablyselected taking the following points into consideration. Specifically,if the assembly holder 31, 7031, and 17031 molded of resin is thermallyexpanded and deformed by heat from the outside such as sunlight, theimaging may be out of focus. Therefore, the assembly holder 31, 7031,and 17031 are molded of a mixture of a raw material that exerts anaction of shrinking when heat is applied to the assembly holder 31,7031, and 17031 of resin. As the raw material exerting such an action,for example, a negative thermal expansion and contraction filler or thelike may be preferably selected. The negative thermal expansion andcontraction filler or the like has a negative thermal expansioncharacteristic in a wide temperature range (up to 800° C.), has a heatresistance hard to decompose even when being treated at a hightemperature (800° C.), and uses no heavy metal. As described above,thermal expansion of the assembly holder 31, 7031, and 17031 due to theheat from the outside can be reduced.

In Modification 64 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments, ina case where excess light enters the optical path from the wide anglelens 36 and 2036 to the imager 34, it may be difficult to properlyrecognize an image. Therefore, it is preferable that the transmittanceof light is taken into account for components surrounding the wide anglelens 36 and 2036 so that the excess light does not enter the opticalpath. Specifically, in addition to the adhesive 8039 as in the eighthembodiment, for example, an adhesive is used for fixing the lens barrel35, 2035 to the assembly holder 31, 7031, 17031 or the like. In a casewhere the adhesive for fixing is made of a material curable by UV light,its color tends to turn white after its curing. Therefore, the curedadhesive likely reflects light and likely exerts adversely effect on theimage recognition. Therefore, as such an adhesive, for example, a blackmaterial having a light transmittance of 2% or less, preferably amaterial having a transmittance of 0.9% or less is selected, therebybeing capable of reducing an influence of light transmitted from aportion using the adhesive.

In Modification 65 according to the first to nineteenth embodiments,since there is a possibility that the imaging is out of focus due toshrinkage at the time of curing the adhesive described in Modification64, a material having a curing shrinkage rate of 2% or less may bepreferably selected. In this example, as the adhesive having a smallcuring shrinkage rate, for example, a resin containing an oxetane group,a bisphenol type epoxy resin or the like can be considered. As a methodof curing such an adhesive, for example, a method using laserirradiation, infrared irradiation, visible light irradiation, highfrequency induction heating, electron beam irradiation, hot melt and thelike are conceivable.

In Modifications 63 to 65 described above, a material or a methodconsidering the thermal expansion, entrance of the excess light, andcuring shrinkage are proposed, but other materials or methods may beemployed without limitation to those described above.

In addition to the above, in Modification 66 according to the first tonineteenth embodiments, the camera module 1 may be mounted inside a rearwindshield of the vehicle 2, and in this case, a context is reversed inthe first to nineteenth embodiments.

The present disclosure further encompasses the following configurations.

An area of the wide angle optical surface above the optical axis islarger in size than that of an area of the wide angle optical surfacelower than the optical axis.

A lens unit is configured by a combination of a plurality of lenses. Theplurality of lenses includes a wide angle lens which is disposed on anexternal environment side of an other lens among the plurality oflenses. The wide angle lens has a wide angle optical surface on theexternal environment side. The wide angle optical surface on an upperside of an optical axis of the rear lens is larger in size than that ona lower side of the optical axis of the rear lens, the optical axispassing through a principal point of the wide angle lens.

A lens unit may be configured by a combination of a plurality of lenses.The plurality of lenses includes a wide angle lens which is disposed onan external environment side of an other lens among the plurality oflenses, which defines a single optical axis thereof. The wide angle lenshas a wide angle optical surface on the external environment side. Ageometric center of the wide angle optical surface is shifted toward anupper side of the single optical axis of the rear lens. The optical axispasses through a principal point of the wide angle lens.

A circuit unit is configured by combination of an imaging board, onwhich an imaging circuit to implement image processing on an output fromthe imager is mounted, with a flexible board connected to the imagingboard. A metal camera casing accommodates the circuit unit to enable torelease heat of the flexible board.

An imaging circuit to implement image processing on an output from theimager is mounted on an imaging board. A holder defines a spaceaccommodating the imaging board and filled with a filler having aspecific property. The specific property is at least one of a thermalradiation property or a conductivity in the space. A metal camera casingaccommodates the holder to enable to release heat generated in theimaging board via the filler.

The side wall portion may be formed to spread on an outside of the taperangle and further formed to bend to go through the imaginaryintersection. The side wall portion may be formed to spread parallel tothe taper angle on an outside of the taper angle. A length of the basewall portion in a vehicle front-rear direction may be longer than alength from the lens unit to the imaginary intersection in avehicle-rear direction. The base wall portion may extend to a front sideof the vehicle relative to the imaginary intersection. The side wallportion may e formed to spread parallel to the taper angle on an outsideof the taper angle on the external environment side beyond the imaginaryintersection.

The hood includes: a base wall portion to be located to face thewindshield across from the external environment; and a pair of side wallportions raised from both vehicle width direction sides of the base wallportion. Under a definition that an imaginary plane imaginarily extendsalong a horizontal direction and goes through at least a part of a frontend surface of the lens unit, the side wall portions are formed at aheight to pass under edges of a field of lens angle of view of the lensunit on the imaginary plane. The field of lens angle of view may be afield for recognizing obstacles located in the external environmentahead of the vehicle. An angle between the edges of the field of lensangle of view may be selected from 80-110 degrees.

A wide angle lens is located at a position enabling to capture an imageof an outside of the vehicle from an inside of the windshield. A hood isto restrict light, which is from a vehicle interior of the vehicle isreflected on an inside of the windshield, from entering the wide anglelens. The hood includes two side wall portions raised toward thewindshield in a state where being mounted to the inside of thewindshield. A height of the side wall portions in the vertical directionis a height not to block edges of a field of an angle of view of thewide angle lens on an imaginary plane. The imaginary plane imaginarilyextends along a horizontal direction and goes through at least a part ofa front end surface of the wide angle lens. The field of lens angle ofview may be a field for recognizing obstacles located in the externalenvironment ahead of the vehicle. An angle between the edges of thefield of lens angle of view may be selected from 80-110 degrees.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera module configured to be mounted to aninside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environmentof the vehicle, the camera module comprising: a lens unit configured bya combination of a plurality of lenses, which defines a single opticalaxis thereof, wherein the plurality of lenses includes a wide angle lenswhich is disposed on an external environment side of an other lens amongthe plurality of lenses, wherein the single optical axis of the wideangle lens is identical with the single optical axis of the other lens;and an imager to image the external environment by forming thereon anoptical image from the external environment through the lens unit,wherein the wide angle lens has a wide angle optical surface on theexternal environment side, and a geometric center of the wide angleoptical surface is shifted toward an upper side of the single opticalaxis, the single optical axis passing through a principal point of thewide angle lens.
 2. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein theimager has an effective image capturing region capable of capturing aninverted image of the optical image as formed, and a geometric center ofthe effective image capturing region is shifted toward a lower side ofthe single optical axis.
 3. The camera module according to claim 1,wherein the wide angle optical surface is in a cut form on the lowerside of the single optical axis.
 4. The camera module according to claim1, further comprising: a camera casing accommodating the lens unit andthe imager.
 5. The camera module according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a circuit unit in which a control circuit is mounted on acontrol board, the control circuit configured to control the imager; anda camera casing accommodating the circuit unit together with the lensunit and the imager.
 6. The camera module according to claim 5, whereinthe control circuit is configured to set an effective pixel by excludinga vehicle image capturing pixel, which reflects the vehicle, in anoutside image generated by image processing of an output from theimager, and to control an exposure based on a pixel value of theeffective pixel during imaging with the imager.
 7. The camera moduleaccording to claim 5, wherein the circuit unit is configured by acombination of: an imaging board located across an upper side and alower side of the control board and on which the imager is mounted atleast on an upper side of the control board; and a flexible boardconnecting the imaging board to the control board.
 8. The camera moduleaccording to claim 4, wherein the camera casing includes: an opposingwall portion to be located to face the windshield; and a bent wallportion bent relative to the opposing wall portion and to be located ina posture in which the further the bent wall portion is distant awayfrom the opposing wall portion, the further the bent wall portion isspaced away from the windshield, and the lens unit is exposed to theoutside of the camera casing through the bent wall portion.
 9. Thecamera module according to claim 1, wherein the lens unit furtherincludes a lens barrel accommodating the wide angle lens, the wide anglelens further includes a locked recess portion recessed on an outerperipheral side of the wide angle optical surface, and the lens barrelhas a locking portion locking the locked recess portion at a lockingposition, the locking position being located on a common plane in acircumferential direction, which is along an outer contour of the wideangle optical surface.
 10. The camera module according to claim 1,further comprising: a hood to restrict incidence of light on the lensunit from the external environment outside an imaging target range ofthe imager.
 11. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside ofa windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of thevehicle, the camera module comprising: a lens unit configured by acombination of a plurality of lenses, which defines a single opticalaxis thereof, wherein the plurality of lenses includes a wide angle lenswhich is disposed on an external environment side of an other lens amongthe plurality of lenses; and an imager to image the external environmentby forming thereon an optical image from the external environmentthrough the lens unit, wherein the wide angle lens has a wide angleoptical surface on the external environment side, a geometric center ofthe wide angle optical surface is shifted toward an upper side of thesingle optical axis, the single optical axis passing through a principalpoint of the wide angle lens, and the geometric center is a midpoint atwhich a distance between a lowermost portion and an uppermost portion ofthe wide angle optical surface is equally divided in a projection viewviewed from the external environment side.
 12. The camera moduleaccording to claim 11, wherein the imager has an effective imagecapturing region capable of capturing an inverted image of the opticalimage as formed, and a geometric center of the effective image capturingregion is shifted toward a lower side of the single optical axis. 13.The camera module according to claim 11, wherein the wide angle opticalsurface is in a cut form on the lower side of the optical axis.
 14. Thecamera module according to claim 11, further comprising: a camera casingaccommodating the lens unit and the imager.
 15. The camera moduleaccording to claim 11, further comprising: a circuit unit in which acontrol circuit is mounted on a control board, the control circuitconfigured to control the imager; and a camera casing accommodating thecircuit unit together with the lens unit and the imager.
 16. The cameramodule according to claim 15, wherein the control circuit is configuredto set an effective pixel by excluding a vehicle image capturing pixel,which reflects the vehicle, in an outside image generated by imageprocessing of an output from the imager, and to control an exposurebased on a pixel value of the effective pixel during imaging with theimager.
 17. The camera module according to claim 15, wherein the circuitunit is configured by a combination of: an imaging board located acrossan upper side and a lower side of the control board and on which theimager is mounted at least on an upper side of the control board; and aflexible board connecting the imaging board to the control board. 18.The camera module according to claim 14, wherein the camera casingincludes: an opposing wall portion to be located to face the windshield;and a bent wall portion bent relative to the opposing wall portion andto be located in a posture in which the further the bent wall portion isdistant away from the opposing wall portion, the further the bent wallportion is spaced away from the windshield, and the lens unit is exposedto the outside of the camera casing through the bent wall portion. 19.The camera module according to claim 11, wherein the lens unit furtherincludes a lens barrel accommodating the wide angle lens, the wide anglelens further includes a locked recess portion recessed on an outerperipheral side of the wide angle optical surface, and the lens barrelhas a locking portion locking the locked recess portion at a lockingposition, the locking position being located on a common plane in acircumferential direction, which is along an outer contour of the wideangle optical surface.
 20. The camera module according to claim 11,further comprising: a hood to restrict incidence of light on the lensunit from the external environment outside an imaging target range ofthe imager.